Fighting Fear With Facts

Fighting Fear With Facts In the War Against Cancer

Knowledge Is A Powerful Tool

Cancer. There are few words that generate more fear in people. And with good reason.

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer kills one American every minute. That’s about 550,000 cancer victims every year. In 2010, approximately 1.4 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer occurs when the cells in the body divide and spread in an uncontrolled manner. If left untreated, cancer can use the blood stream or lymphatic system to spread (metastasize) into other parts of the body.

The Good News

Just recently, however, for the first time in more than 70 years, the number of deaths caused by cancer is declining. Researchers have a much better understanding of both the genetic and environmental causes of cancer and the factors that cause it to spread.

Take Action. Save Your Life.

Here’s even more good news. The American Cancer Society estimates that “roughly 50 percent of cancer deaths can be attributed to a limited number of largely preventable behaviors and exposures.” Here are some examples of positive steps you can take to lower the risk and reduce the occurrence of cancer.

Stop Smoking: About 170,000 cancer deaths each year are caused by smoking and the use of tobacco products.

Get Moving and Eat Healthy Foods: The American Cancer Society estimates that one third of all cancer deaths are related to factors of diet and exercise. Despite this, less than 15 percent of adults take part in vigorous exercise at least five times a week.

For Women Over 50, Have A Yearly Mammogram: Having an annual mammogram is a proven way to detect breast cancer in its early stages, when the survival rate is much higher. Yet despite ongoing educational awareness, the percentage of women having a mammogram is not increasing. The more women who have a mammogram, the more lives will be saved. Ask your personal physician, or contact us today for more information about scheduling an appointment.

Get Your Colon Checked: In addition to detecting colorectal cancer in its early stages, a colonoscopy can actually prevent cancer from developing by removing polyps that could become cancerous. Despite this fact, less than half of adults over 50 years old have ever had their colon checked. Take Action! Call your doctor, or contact us today.