Maximizing Life Expectancy: Farmer’s Approach To Cancer

Rural Farmers and Cancer Risk: Understanding Perspectives and Prevention Strategies

In today’s world, more and more people are surviving cancer than ever before thanks to important advances in cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Even so, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States—and compared to people in other occupations, farmers and agricultural workers tend to have a higher cancer risk.

Research in the 21st century is now focused on whole foods approaches to cancer prevention and treatment. Whole foods are known to contain bioactive compounds, functional carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and a correct energy balance, all working together to prevent and treat cancer.

A recent study conducted in Washington aimed to understand rural older farmers’ perspectives and attitudes toward skin cancer risk and prevention. By using a grounded theory approach and semi-structured interviews, the study involved 12 rural older farmers (farm owners and farmworkers aged 50 years or older) to explore their perspectives relative to Health Belief Model constructs.

Furthermore, efforts are being made to build a community infrastructure to reduce cancer health disparities among farmers and agricultural workers. Strategies such as farmers’ markets at federally qualified health centers have shown to improve fruit and vegetable intake among low-income individuals at risk of cancer.

Looking towards the future, the United Nations has set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at promoting a sustainable future and boosting healthy life worldwide. One crucial SDG target is to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, including cancers, by a third by 2030.

Learning from the principles of resistance management in agriculture, which have inspired adaptive therapy in oncology, there is potential to increase progression-free survival and quality of life in cancer patients where cures are unlikely.

It is essential to continue exploring innovative strategies and interventions to reduce cancer risk among farmers and agricultural workers, ultimately improving their overall health and quality of life.