At the same time, what can I as an individual do to make sure my country, my government is not under pressure to pay for my health. I (all of us) need to make an effort to stay healthy.

As far as the etiology of cancer goes, two things are very important.

Your lifestyle -what you eat and drink.

Everything in moderation. Even coffee/tea in moderation. One cup of coffee won't harm but three four cups can. Same is the case with alcohol. Five percent ethanol which is part of so many medicines is not harmful but when that ethanol goes into your body in excess it kills you.

enough exercise, avoid obesity, lower the quantities of red meat,green in your diet and avoid tobacco. Eat regularly. Go back to your roots, there are some great immunity boosters in all our cultures.

So fr screenings after 55 years , if you are not high risk but after 40 if you are in a high risk group -due to your genetics or lifestyle. You carry the BRCa gene.

Vaccines are important, there are vaccines for many cancers now.

And the most important thing is listen to your body talk to your body, your body gives you enough signals. If you have no time to talk to your body about the smaller ailments, the symptoms will just pass you by and you will land up in hospitals and a much later stage where treatment is difficult. people come up saying they had no symptoms at stage three/four of the disease. Its not possible. Find time for your body. Be aware of your body. the body will tell you something is wrong with me. You need to go to the right person at that time.

Try to find reasons for a cough which wont go away, find a reason for the hertburn which keeps coming back.

We have got diagnostic we an detect people early. So the key here is maintain a healthy life style and listen to your body.