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Family
Living
Healthy
Life Styles
Cancer
and the Environment
Bad
news: Cancer is the second leading cause of death (following heart
disease) in the U.S.
Promising
News: At least two-thirds of all cases of cancer in the U.S. are
due to environmenal factors. That is, these factors give us hope
if we modify our behaviors.
Some of these
factors are:
- Tobacco:
Accounts for about one-third of all cancer deaths in U.S. each
year.
- Diet/Weight/Physical
Inactivity: Obesity appears to be one of the most important
modifiable causes of cancer after tobacco.
- Ultraviolet
radiation: Radiation from the sun, sunlamps or tanning beds can
lead to melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. The incidence
of skin cancers is increasing.
Some ways to
reduce the risk of developing cancer:
- Don't smoke
cigarettes, pipes or cigars; don't chew tobacco and avoid smoke
filled rooms.
- Lose weight
if you are overweight.
- Exercise
regularly.
- Eat a daily
diet that includes a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and
whole grains.
- Avoid too
much sunlight.
Resources:
Web site: www.cancer.gov
Publication:
Cancer and the Environment, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, 2003.
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