The American Cancer Society (ACS) is the nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. A great way for you to personally get started on this effort is to better understand the important role health and wellness play in your personal cancer risk.
According to the ACS’ “Cancer Facts & Figures 2007,” nearly two-thirds of the more than 500,000 cancer deaths in the United State in 2007 can be attributed to poor diet, physical inactivity, exposure to tobacco products and lack of regular cancer screening tests. In Rhode Island, there were an estimated 6,360 estimated new cancer cases in 2007, with 2,370 deaths.
Although inherited genes do influence cancer risk, how we behave can substantially affect the risk of developing cancer. For instance, smoking accounts for at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths (lung cancer). It is the most preventable cause of death in the United States.
• Maintain a healthy weight throughout life. Nationwide, overweight and obesity contribute to 14 to 20 percent of all cancer-related mortality. The conditions are associated with increased risk for developing many cancers, including cancers of the breast among post-menopausal women, colon, thyroid, esophagus and kidney. Unfortunately, statistics show that more than half the adult population in every state is overweight.
The best way to achieve a healthy body weight is to balance food intake with physical activity and thus maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI). Caloric intake can be reduced by decreasing the size of food portions and limiting the intake of high-calorie foods, which should be replaced with more healthy options.
• Consume a healthy diet. Poor nutrition is a risk factor for cancer, and approximately one-third of the more than half a million cancer deaths in the U.S. this year can be attributed to factors including poor diet. There is strong scientific evidence that healthy dietary patterns such as eating five or more servings of vegetables and fruits each day, in combination with regular physical activity, are needed to maintain a healthy body weight and reduce cancer risk. People who drink alcohol should limit their intake to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Alcohol consumption combined with tobacco use increases the risk of cancers in the mouth, larynx and esophagus far more than either drinking or smoking alone.
• Adopt a physically active lifestyle. Scientific evidence indicates that physical activity may reduce the risk of certain cancers as well as provide other important health benefits. By participating in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity for five or more days a week, people can reduce their risk of cancer. But the physical activity also reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, falls, stress and depression.
• Arrange for regular check-ups. Screening can detect cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, mouth and skin at early stages, when treatment is more likely to be successful. Furthermore, tests for cervical and colorectal cancer may detect changes in cells before they become cancerous. The five-year survival rate for cancers that can be prevented or detected earlier by screening is about 86 percent. Talk with your doctor about when you should be screened and be sure to mention if you have a family history of cancer. You can also log on to www.cancer.org for a complete list of cancer screening guidelines.
• Access to care. Uneven access to timely, quality health care is the greatest barrier to winning the war on cancer. Individuals and families who lack meaningful insurance often forgo routine screenings, and when they become sick they often choose less costly and less effective treatments.
The ACS has issued four principles that define meaningful health insurance and highlight major problems in the health care system that are impeding progress against cancer and other major diseases. The principles state that health insurance should be adequate, affordable, available and administratively simple.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is applying these four principles to federal and state health insurance reform proposals to determine whether the proposals would improve health care for uninsured and underinsured Rhode Islanders.
Throughout the year, the ACS helps people learn what they can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce their cancer risk. We provide support and services 24 hours a day with access to live operators who are trained to work with you on your cancer related issues. Call 1-800-ACS-2345 to learn more about the Cancer Resource Network, find local information and programs or to get involved. Take the Society’s Great American Health Challenge, by logging on to
www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans, and learn more. •
Debborah Smith is the state vice president for cancer control for the American Cancer Society in Rhode Island.
