The Missouri Department of Health has taken this opportunity to inform Missourians that many new cases and deaths from several types of cancer can be avoided. Those easily subject to prevention or screening are lung, colorectal, breast, prostate, oral, skin, and cervical cancers. Incidence and death rates from these cancers can be significantly decreased in two ways. Except for cancer of the breast and prostate, risks for developing the other cancers can be greatly reduced by good lifestyle choices. Additionally, with the exception of lung cancer, all these cancers have readily available and effective screening methods.
Early detection allows more options for treatment and greatly improves the chances for a cure.
Good lifestyle choices include avoiding tobacco in all forms, maintaning a proper diet with little fatty foods and plenty of vegetables, getting daily exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, and limiting exposure to sunlight. Lung cancer accounts for more new cases and deaths than do the next three leading cancers combined. Additional benefit is gained with regular exercise, which can be as simplel as a brisk walk most days. There are also effective screening methods for detecting colorectal cancer beginning at age 50. Exposure to UV light primarily comes from sunlight, but also includes tanning salons.