Have you thought about cancer prevention today?

It’s something to think about every day, but today is World Cancer Day.

It’s a global event organized by the Union for International Cancer Control and promoted in the United States by the American Cancer Association.

With events, festivals and information going out worldwide, this special day is designed to get people talking about cancer and the importance of early detection in beating it.

To help mark the day, McLaren Macomb is offering these important health tips to help reduce your risk of getting cancer:

1. Quit smoking and get help if this has been difficult in the past.
2. Try to maintain a healthy weight by eating healthier foods (more fruits and vegetables) and exercising more.
3. Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays (and artificial tanning).
4. Have regular check-ups and screenings, including yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and a colonoscopy every 10 years to detect colorectal cancer and polyps (starting at age 50).
5. Understand your risks, including your family’s history of cancer.

For women, one of the best things to do is to schedule a mammogram at the McLaren Macomb Breast Center, the first in Southeast Michigan to offer advanced 3D mammography for breast screening.

Tomosynthesis or 3D imaging, is the next generation of screening. It’s a revolutionary tool designed for the early detection of breast cancer. The 3D exam is a separate procedure and is performed at the same time as a traditional 2D digital mammogram.

McLaren Macomb also offers the BRAvo for Women free mammogram program for uninsured women in Macomb County.

For more information, or to schedule a mammogram, please call the McLaren Macomb Breast Center at (586) 493-3790.