Choose foods low in fat, and cut down on consumption of high-fat meats. Scientific evidence suggests that up to one-third of the 552,200 cancer deaths expected to occur in the U.S. this year are related to poor nutrition or insufficient physical activity. Just 30 minutes of moderate activity a day, most days of the week, can help reduce your risk for cancer. Maintaining an ideal weight may help reduce the risk for these cancers. For information about fitness programs, call 696-5824.
Early detection saves lives by identifying cancers when they are the most curable.
Survival rates for these common cancers and melanoma of the skin are 89 to 95 percent if they are discovered before having spread beyond the organ where the cancer began. Some risk factors such as age and race, or an inherited or genetic predisposition to developing certain cancers, cannot be changed. It's important to know about risk factors so appropriate actions, such as changing a health behavior or being monitored closely for a potential cancer, can be taken. An estimated 19,000 cancer deaths this year may be related to excessive alcohol use, frequently in combination with tobacco use. For information about chemical dependency programs, call 696-5909.