Is it your bedroom, where you can get restful sleep regularly?
Maybe. The International Agency for Research on Cancer had classified shift-work “that involves circadian disruption" (disruption of the 24 hour biological clock) as probably cancer causing to humans (Straif, 2007), but a large study published in 2016 did not find a statistically significant relationship between shift work and cancer (Travis, 2016). So avoid shift work if you can, perhaps the jury is still out on this one.
Is it your garden?
Although not a room in your home, you can garden organically and avoid pesticide exposure, or use lawn maintenance services that avoid chemical pesticides. Why? Certain pesticides are known to increase breast cancer (triazine pesticides), lung cancer (carbamate and phenoxyherbicides) and brain and blood cancers in children (indoor insecticides) (Sanborn, 2004).
Is it your bathroom, where you use multiple personal products made with dozens of chemicals, every day?
The bathroom can really be full of hazardous chemicals, and some believe this is the room where a little research, reading labels, and selecting appropriate products for skin, hair, nails, etc., can make the most difference. A few examples:
So while there are things you can do in all of the above rooms to play a role in helping you avoid a cancer diagnosis, it’s what you do in the kitchen that may give you the biggest positive bang for your buck.
Cancer-Fighting Kitchen Tips: The Do's and Don’ts List
If you stop to think about how your environment and your daily habits can help to fight cancer, you may find that making some small, but important changes can have long-term positive effects on your health.
References
Donaldson Michael S. Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet. Nutrition Journal, Vol 3, Iss 1, P 19 (2004) [serial online]. 2004;(1):19. Available from: Directory of Open Access Journals, Ipswich, MA. Accessed February 5, 2017.
[Environmental Working Group] Top Tips for Safer Products http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/top-tips-for-safer-products/ . Accessed February 5, 2017.
[National Toxicology Program] Report on Human Carcinogens https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/butylatedhydroxyanisole.pdf . Accessed February 5, 2017.
[National Toxicology Program] Report on Human Carcinogens https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/dioxane.pdf . Accessed February 5, 2017.
Sanborn M, Cole D, Kerr K, et al. Pesticides literature review. Ontario College of Family Physicians. 2004:1-186. http://ocfp.on.ca/docs/public-policy-documents/pesticides-literature-review.pdf?Status=Master#d14b9fba-3da2-4216-a446-980b43dbd82e . Accessed February 5, 2017.
Straif K, Baan R, Cogliano V, et al. Carcinogenicity of shift-work, painting, and fire-fighting. The Lancet. Oncology [serial online]. December 2007;8(12):1065-1066. Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed February 4, 2017.
Travis R, Balkwill A, Beral V, et al. Night Shift Work and Breast Cancer Incidence: Three Prospective Studies and Meta-analysis of Published Studies. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute [serial online]. October 6, 2016;108(12)Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed February 4, 2017.