A Consultant with the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr Adebayo Oladeji, on Wednesday said youths could reduce their cancer risk by 90 per cent  through  healthy living, good diet and exercise.

Oladeji, who is of  the Oncology Radiation Department, said this while speaking at the  annual lecture of the Students Association of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development of the University of  Ibadan.

The lecture was entitled “Cancer and Your Health.”

“Before cancer develops, it takes 15 years to 20 years,  hence cancer that manifests  at the age of 40 will have started at age 20,’’ he said.

The consultant stressed  that 90 per cent of what causes  cancer were preventable, adding that diet alone accounted for 50 per cent of  the risk factors.

He listed other risk factors to include  smoking, alcohol consumption and  infection, especially Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

“One can maintain a healthy lifestyle such as not smoking, not taking alcohol, eating well to prevent cancer  and preventing  obesity that can  increase the risk of developing cancer.

“Maintaining all these  will reduce the possibility of developing cancer by 90 per cent,’’ Oladeji said.

He said that cancer generally has  common symptoms  even though treatment would be based on  the type of cancer detected.

“The commonest of the cancer in women is  breast cancer and that of the  cervix which when detected early enough can be treated immediately,’’ he added.

The consultant identified prostrate cancer as  the commonest  in men, saying  symptoms include  difficulties in urinating and speckling of blood in the sperm.

He advised youths to monitor their  diet and ensure reduction in consumption of red meat,  fat and  processed food while increasing those of  fruits and vegetables. (NAN)