Skip to main content

1 in 3 Common Cancers May Be Preventable


About a third of common adult cancers may be preventable in the U.S. -- and that doesn't even count cancers that could be prevented by not smoking.

That's according to a new report from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and its sister organization, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).

In the new report, the WCRF and AICR estimate that in the U.S., eating a nutritious diet, being physically active, and keeping body fat under control may prevent:

* 38% of breast cancers
* 45% of colorectal cancers
* 36% of lung cancers
* 39% of pancreatic cancers
* 47% of stomach cancers
* 69% of esophageal cancers
* 63% of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, or larynx
* 70% of endometrial cancers
* 24% of kidney cancers
* 21% of gallbladder cancers
* 15% of liver cancers
* 11% of prostate cancers

Diet, physical activity, and limited body fat could prevent 34% of those 12 cancers overall in the U.S., and 24% of all cancers, according to the report.

Those estimates are all about the big picture -- the effect on the overall population -- not an individual's chance of developing cancer.

The WCRF/AICR report also includes tips for governments, industries, school, media, and other institutions worldwide to promote healthy lifestyles. Among those recommendations:

* New developments should be designed to encourage walking and cycling.
* Government and school cafeterias should provide healthy foods and drinks.
* Food and drink industries should price healthy fare competitively with other products and stop promoting sugary drinks and unhealthy foods to kids.
* Workplaces should have policies and environments that are supportive of breastfeeding.
* Media should promote cancer prevention and flag misleading cancer claims.

That guidance is in line with the American Cancer Society's recommendation for community action, notes Colleen Doyle, the American Cancer Society's director of nutrition and physical activity. "Reversing the obesity epidemic will require bold action and multiple strategies, including policy changes at national, state, and local levels that make it easier for people to eat better and be more active," Doyle says in an American Cancer Society statement.

The WCRF/AICR, which has previously published cancer prevention tips for individuals, stresses that cancer prevention means trimming the odds of developing cancer, not totally eliminating cancer.

Many factors affect cancer risk, and some of them -- like family history -- aren't within your control. A healthy lifestyle doesn't wipe out cancer risk -- but it also has no downside. And, because early detection is often a big help in treating cancer when it does occur, checking with doctor about routine cancer screening tests
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MCI Dec 2009 Amendments for Minimum Qualification for Teachers

MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA AMENDMENT NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 15th December, 2009 No.MCI-12(2)/2009-Med.Misc./56925. - In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 33 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956), the Medical Council of India with the previous sanction of the Central Government, hereby makes the following Regulations to further amend the “Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations 1998”, namely: - 1. (i) These Regulations may be called the “Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions (Amendment) Regulations, 2009 - Part-III”. (ii) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the “Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998”, the following additions/modifications/deletions/ substitutions, shall be, as indicated therein: - 3(a). In Clause 4(A) under the heading “Professor” as amended vide “Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical I
64 comments
Read more

MCI rules ammended and favours young Professors

AMENDMENT NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 21st July, 2009 No.MCI-12(2) /2009-Med. -22654 - In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 33 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956), the Medical Council of India with the previous sanction of the Central Government, hereby makes the following Regulations to amend the “Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations 1998” , namely: - 1. (i) These Regulations may be called the “Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions (Amendment) Regulations, 2009” . (ii) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the “Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998” , the following additions/modificat ions/deletions/ substitutions, shall be, as indicated therein: - 3(i)(a). In Schedule I, Clause (2), the words “The Heads of these departments must possess recognized basic university medical degree qualification or equivalent q
27 comments
Read more

Maharastra Medical Council CME Guidelines

Medical Science is dynamic and there is no end of learning for a doctor. This is in essence the concept of continuing medical education (CME). Tremendous advances are taking place in the field of medical sciences, which are continuously changing the concept, approach to management and the outcome of several diseases. The rapid pace of these advances makes it mandatory for doctors to keep themselves updated so that they may apply this information to their patient’s well being and improve the quality of care rendered to them. A doctor must never be satisfied with his/her current level of proficiency and must always strive to enhance his/her competence and knowledge by keeping abreast with the latest developments in the field. The Central Government of India has notified the new Ethics regulations in the Gazette of India on April 16, 2002, provides that “ A Physician should participate in professional meetings as part of Continuing Medical Education Programmes, for at least 30 hours ever
21 comments
Read more