Cancer
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Virginia Cancer Care
Ravneet Grewal, MD
Board Certified Medical Oncologist located in Reston, VA & Leesburg, VA
Advances in the early detection and treatment of cancer have contributed to the recent drop in United States cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Dr. Ravneet Grewal is one of Virginia’s most celebrated oncologists and provides comprehensive cancer care to men, women, and children in Reston and Leesburg, Virginia. She and her compassionate medical team at Virginia Cancer Care treat every aspect and stage of cancer in a caring, state-of-the-art environment. Call the office nearest you or schedule your consultation online.
Cancer Q & A
What are the risk factors for cancer?
Certain risk factors increase your chances of developing cancer, including heredity, lifestyle, and diet. The most common risk factors directly linked to certain types of cancers include:
- Excessive alcohol or red meat consumption
- Chemicals and additives in food
- Chronic inflammation conditions
- Hormones
- Obesity
- Tobacco use
- Exposure to toxins or infectious agents
- Excessive sun exposure
- Radiation exposure
- Environmental pollution
How can I reduce my risk of developing cancer?
If you smoke or chew tobacco, one of the best ways to reduce your risk of developing lung, larynx, mouth, throat, and other cancers is to stop smoking and chewing. If you spend time with smokers, avoiding their second-hand smoke can help reduce your risk.
To reduce your risk of developing breast, prostate, colorectal, ovarian, and other types of cancer, consider changing your lifestyle to include one or more of these healthy habits:
- Eat a diet high in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains
- Participate in regular exercise or physical activities
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- Limit alcohol intake to one (women) or two (men) drinks a day
- Attain sufficient vitamin D
- Limit intake of processed, prepackaged meats
- Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays
- Avoid exposure to industrial or environmental toxins
What steps can I take for early detection of cancer?
Precautionary measures, like monthly self-exams targeting specific areas of your body such as the breasts and testicles, are one of the best approaches to detect types of cancer that have no symptoms.
By performing a regular, monthly self-exam you’ll be more likely to notice any changes, for example, a lump in your breast tissue that wasn’t there before.
Regular mammograms are an integral part of an early detection of breast cancer. With earlier diagnosis, there is a better chance of successfully treating the disease.
For early detection of other types of cancer, including prostate and colon cancer, schedule regular medical screenings with your physician at Virginia Cancer Care. To determine the kinds of cancer screenings appropriate for you, Dr. Grewal and her team base their decision on factors such as your overall health, age, and family health history.
To schedule your consultation, call either the Leesburg or Reston office, or schedule online.
