64 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • FEBRUARY 15, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
QUEENS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES
CENTER FOR CANCER AND BLOOD DISORDERS
Queens Medical Associates Shares Insight for National Cancer Awareness Month
Leading oncology and hematology practiceprovides tips on cancer prevention
Fresh Meadows, NY (February 14, 2018) —In
recognition of February as National Cancer
Awareness Month, Queens Medical Associates,a
preeminent cancer care facility specializing
in hematology, has provided general tips for
individuals to take steps towards a healthier
lifestyle and cancer prevention. Providing cancer
prevention information is a key component of
QMA’s integrative approach to care.
What is cancer?
Cancer is not one disease, but many diseases
that occur in different areas of the body.
Each type of cancer is characterized by the
uncontrolled growth of cells. Under normal
conditions, cell reproduction is carefully
controlled by the body. However, these controls
can malfunction, resulting in abnormal cell
growth and the development of a lump, mass,
or tumor. Some cancers involving the blood and
blood-forming organs do not form tumors but
circulate through other tissues where they grow.
What is cancer prevention?
Cancer prevention consists of proactive steps
taken to decrease one’s risk of developing
cancer. In 2017, there will be an estimated 1.7
million new cancer diagnoses and 600 hundred
thousand cancer deaths in the United States. In
addition to the physical problems and emotional
distress caused by cancer, the high costs of care
are also a burden to patients, their families, and
to the public. The goal of preventative measures
is to reduce the number of new cancer cases
and, in turn, minimize the physical, emotional
and financial strains that cancer often causes.
“While much of what we do for our patients is
based on treating them after they’ve received
a cancer diagnosis, it’s critical to continuously
remind them and the general public that there
are lifestyle changes that can help prevent
cancer,” explains Dr. Gabriel H. Jung, M.D.,
Oncologist/Hematologist. “Some of these
things may seem like no-brainers, but they’re
worth regular reinforcing.”
The Tips
Don’t use tobacco
Avoiding tobacco — or deciding to stop using it
— is one of the most important health decisions
an individual can make and a crucial part of
cancer prevention.
Eat a healthy diet
Although making healthy selections at the
grocery store and at mealtime can’t guarantee
cancer prevention, it might help reduce the risk.
Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole
grains, legumes and nuts.
Drink alcohol in moderation. The risk of various
types of cancer increases with the amount of
alcohol one drinks and the length of time one
has been drinking regularly.
Limit processed meats. A report from the
International Agency for Research on Cancer, the
cancer agency of the World Health Organization,
concluded that eating large amounts of
processed meat can slightly increase the risk of
certain types of cancer.
Keep a healthy weight and be physically active
Maintaining a healthy weight might lower the
risk of various types of cancer, including cancer
of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney.
Eat lighter and leaner by choosing fewer highcalorie
foods, including refined sugars and fat
from animal sources.
Engage in physical activity regularly. In addition
to helping control weight, studies show that
physical activity might lower the risk of breast
cancer and colon cancer.
Use sun protection
Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds
of cancer — and one of the most preventable. If
possible, avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4
p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. If one
has to be outside, stay in the shade or wear
protective clothing, sunglasses and a hat.
Use generous amounts of sunscreen and
reapply frequently. Avoid tanning beds and
sunlamps, which are as damaging as natural
sunlight.
Schedule regular medical screenings
Finding precancerous conditions early are
extremely important in the prevention process.
Precancerous conditions are conditions that may
become cancer. Screenings like mammograms,
pap smears, prostate exams, endoscopies and
colonoscopies should take place on a regular
basis.
Get immunized
Cancer prevention includes protection from
certain viral infections. Talk to your doctor about
immunization against
Hepatitis B, which can increase the risk of
developing liver cancer.
Speak with your pediatrician: The (HPV) vaccine
is now recommended for girls and boys. It is
also available to both men and women age
26 or younger who didn’t have the vaccine
as adolescents. HPV is a sexually transmitted
virus that can lead to cervical and other genital
cancers.
Avoid risky behaviors
Certain risky behaviors can lead to infections
that potentially increase the risk of cancer.
Avoidance of these is a form of prevention.
Practice safe sex by limiting the number of
sexual partners, and regularly use protection to
lower the risk of sexually transmitted infections
like HIV or HPV, which can increase the risk of
certain cancers.
Don’t share needles. Sharing needles with an
infected drug user can lead to HIV, as well as
hepatitis B and hepatitis C, which can increase
the risk of liver cancer.
ABOUT QUEENS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES
Queens Medical Associates (QMA) is a wellestablished
physician practice and infusion
center which provides hematology and medical
oncology care for patients with cancer and
blood disorders. Located in Fresh Meadows,
New York, QMA’s physicians and clinical
staff bring decades of experience providing
exceptional care and treatment. Approximately
300 patients are served daily translating into
over 200 treatments. QMA’s team members
communicate in five official languages (English,
Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Russian).
The practice also offers infusion therapy for
many conditions including Crohn’s disease,
multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and
organ transplants. For more information about
Queens Medical Associates, visit http://www.
queensmedical.com/.