Cancer doctor reveals 5 habits that may reduce disease risk and improve outcomes

Even as new data shows cancer’s continuing toll in the U.S., a surgical oncologist says some simple lifestyle measures could help lower the likelihood of developing the disease.

An estimated 2,114,850 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2026 — about 5,800 per day, according to the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Loren Rourke, a Texas-based breast surgical oncologist and author of “Real Talk, Real Hope: Breast Cancer Your Way,” emphasized that while no lifestyle choice can guarantee cancer prevention, healthy habits can help reduce certain risk factors.

The U.S. surgeon general issued guidance last year following research that linked alcohol to at least seven types of cancer, naming it as the “third leading preventable cause of cancer” in the country, after tobacco and obesity.

Rourke advised that alcohol should only be consumed in moderation, although even light drinking has been shown to raise the risk of certain cancers.

“Too many Americans are living with an outdated assumption that some amount of alcohol is not only harmless, but also good for you,” Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel previously told Fox News Digital. “Increasing evidence shows that isn’t true.”

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“Even though traditional advice has been up to one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men, in fact, no amount of alcohol is healthy,” he added.

Early detection programs have enabled doctors and patients to detect disease earlier than ever before, which increases survival rates, Rourke noted.

“I think now there’s more awareness,” she said. “People know if they have someone in their family and what kind of cancer they had.”

“I think people are much more educated in general, and that is promoting wellness, health, early detection and screening.”

Rourke also expressed concern about relying too heavily on artificial intelligence when investigating possible symptoms.

“If you are worried about something, call your primary care doctor [or] gynecologist,” she advised. “If you feel like something’s wrong, follow through with it and get it checked out. Never ignore your inner voice.”