You can’t expect not to expect it. Simple as the word sounds to you, it could drastically change the life of someone around you. Earlier this summer, my four year old cousin Ethan was diagnosed with cancer. It was a medulloblastoma tumor on the back of his head, which had already begun to grow once the doctors found it. Luckily, the surgeons removed 98 percent of the tumor, but after that, they found the cancer.

Good news of my cousin’s well-being was rare in our time of need for some. Everyday is a constant struggle. You can’t even imagine the pain and suffering that the patients go through, stages of anger, anxiety, and frustration. Ethan lost a very large percentage of his physical abilities and became quickly delayed in his speech capabilities. Just looking at him would make all my troubles seem minuscule. We all wished we could make him feel better, take away his confusion. I know cancer has, and will continue to, scar many others around me in the future. It hurts me to know that there’s a little boy out there, facing the struggles of life and not being able to live like he should. But he’s not the only one; Ethan is fighting along with many other young patients all across the world. The number of cancer patients are growing each day, with no cure yet found. However, we are still able to turn that number around and keep it from getting any higher. Just taking simple steps to make small changes to your everyday life could change the road ahead. After watching my own family member have to deal with this, I don’t want to see any others do the same thing.

Your steps to a healthier future begin with not using tobacco, smoking cigarettes or smoking cigars. All types of tobacco lead to a course of cancer. NEVER, no matter what anyone says, give in to smoking anything at all. You can quickly become addicted and these harmful objects will make it very hard for you to quit once you’ve started. Avoiding tobacco and cigarettes at all costs is proven to reduce your risk of several types of cancer. Cigarette smoking branches out to 90 percent of all types of lung cancer which is the primary cause of cancer death in men and women. Plus, most adults who are smokers now started smoking from the young ages of 14-17 years old.

With every cigarette you smoke, your body takes in 60 nasty substances, leading to your cells becoming cancerous. Cigarettes also contain tar, which creates a gross, sticky brown layer on your lungs that traps those little “substances” you take in every time you smoke. Secondhand smoke can lead to lung cancer as well as smoking yourself can. 3,000 nonsmokers die of cancer from secondhand smoke every year. Equally important is eating healthy foods! Of course, we all know that doctors and any adult figure stresses this, but it is a must, and no matter how tempting that bag of potato chips seems, grab a healthier choice instead, like granola or fruit. Eating healthy doesn’t insure you will becancer free, but it’s proven to lessen your chances of developing it over time. 30 percent of cancers are caused by problems of not getting the right foods into your body, and obesity plays a big part in that, too. Every day, you need five or more servings of fruits and veggies. Also, whole grains and beans are great plant sources for your growing body. Green and darkish yellow veggies, foods made from soybeans, and broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbage reduce your chance from getting colon or stomach cancer. It’s very crucial to eat lighter, non-fat, or low fat products. Diets high in fat lead to other dangerous cancers. For more healthy eating tips, or if you have any questions about your diet, ask your doctor.

Another step to cancer prevention includes staying active and maintaining a healthy wait. Almost every school offers a sports program or extra-curricular activities. Studies show that students who are involved in other activities outside and in school have better attitudes and higher grades opposed to those who aren’t involved. Students who don’t take part in clubs and sports are also at a higher risk of doing drugs, drinking and other bad behaviors. Every child, teen and adult must have 30 minutes of physical activity three days of the week. Safe exercise programs are out there for everyone. There are tons of opportunities just outside your door. Remember, your doctor or physical therapist can recommend a system that will work for you, and you don’t even need back-breaking labor to exercise – walk, rake the yard, or ride a bike. Exercise is a great way to do things with your friends and family, too. It doesn’t have to be a drag.

Make exercising fun for you. Protection from the sun could save your skin later in life. The sun’s UV radiation peaks from 10 a.m. to four p.m.

Skin cancer is among the common cancers and easy to prevent when you follow simple steps, like these:

• Avoid all tanning beds and sunlamps, over-usage of these can damage your skin

• Use plenty of sunscreen. Lather on at least a sunscreen with SPF 30, and cover all of your body, especially the most exposed parts which are your face, hands, fore arms and ears

• Wear loose fitted, tightly woven fabrics and a brimmed hat that covers your head and your ears. Stay in the shade when you’re outside. When you go to the beach, bring a beach umbrella to sit under.

Regular visits to your doctor and yearly checkups will detect any cancer signs and keep your body out of danger and are also equally important for your health. Some cancers come from viruses that can be kept away by getting immunizations. Different ages of people take different shots, while others cannot. If you’re unsure about different vaccines, talk to your doctor.