Click here to see the first two Cancer Prevention Tips for Women!
3. Get Screened!!
I cannot say enough about the importance of screening. For example, colorectal cancer is considered THE MOST PREVENTABLE CANCER
because a screening colonoscopy can usually find a pre-cancerous polyp
before it turns into cancer. Unfortunately, many women are not getting
this important screening.
Here is a list of screenings for various cancers and when women should get them:
- Breast Cancer
– All women should do monthly self breast exams. Starting at age 40,
get your annual mammogram and clinical breast exam. If a woman is at
very high risk (due to genetic risk or family history), she may need an
annual MRI. - Cervical Cancer – By the age of 21, all women should have annual Pap tests. Consider getting the HPV vaccine.
- Colorectal Cancer –
Have a screening colonoscopy at least every 10 years. Depending on
family history and polyp risk, women may need to be screened every 5
years. - Oral Cancer – Have an oral cancer screening by your dentist every year.
- Skin Cancer – Have a whole body skin check by a doctor every year.
Cancer Prevention Recipe: Spicy Chicken over Potatoes
Here is a recipe that I made this week. It was surprisingly good! Of course, you can made any additions and subtractions to fit your taste. I had fresh jalapenos from my garden, so I went ahead and used them. Yum!
Spicy Chicken over Potatoes
Cancer Prevention Recipe
- Red potatoes (enough for 3-4 people)
- 1 head of broccoli
- 1 pound of chicken breast or tenderloin
- Cooking spray
- Salt
- Pepper
- 2 jalapeno peppers
- Non-fat plain yogurt
- Dijon mustard
- Carefully dice jalapeno peppers (I have to wear gloves to cut them or else I can’t wear my contact lenses for 3 days!)
- Wash potatoes, piercing multiple times with fork and put in microwave for 8 minutes (or bake, which takes much longer!).
- Bake chicken in the oven (or toaster oven) at 350 degrees.
- Coat the pan with cooking spray and sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of chicken. Cook until done (tenderloins will take less time than chicken breast).
- While potatoes and chicken are cooking, cut broccoli into bite size pieces.
- Steam broccoli in a steamer, stir fry pan or microwave.
- Once chicken is cooked, cut it into small bits, add enough yogurt to coat chicken, add Dijon mustard to taste and mix in diced jalapenos. (I probably used 1 cup of yogurt and 1/4 cup of mustard).
- Serve in a bowl with potatoes cut open on the bottom, covered with chicken mixture and topped with broccoli.
This was great the next day for lunch too! Just heat up all 3 parts and serve as leftovers.
Enjoy!
– Julie