Summer 2010 Quarterly Newsletter

Health Threat No. 2: Cancer

Our doctors explain the leading threats to your health, and how to protect yourself.
Part 2 of 4.

According to the American Cancer Society, “We now have strong evidence that an individual’s risk of developing cancer can be substantially reduced by healthy behavior.” Four behaviors, in particular, are known to reduce cancer risk: avoiding tobacco, staying physically active, eating healthy foods (and not too much food), and getting cancer screenings according to guidelines. (ACS: The Importance of Behavior in Cancer Prevention and Early Detection)

The ACS estimates that nearly a third of cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use, and another third can be attributed to poor eating habits, physical inactivity, and overweight and obesity. This is powerful information. By putting it to use in your life, you can fight back against gloomy statistics like these:

• Following heart disease, cancer is the second leading health threat to men and women in the United States, causing one of every four deaths.

• One in two men and one in three women will develop cancer.

Four cancers account for more than half of all cancer deaths in the U.S. Here is what we know about these cancers and what you can do to minimize your risks:

Lung cancer: Almost entirely preventable by avoiding tobacco
Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths among men and women. The ACS states that about 87 percent of lung cancer deaths — as well as 30 percent of deaths from all types of cancer — are related to smoking. The key to prevention is clear: Don’t smoke.

If you do smoke, quit — within 15 years, your risk of lung cancer will be almost as low as if you had never smoked. Many effective programs are available to help you quit. Ask your doctor for help, and check with your health plan — a new state law passed last year requires some plans to cover these programs.

Breast cancer: Early detection is key
Many studies suggest a connection between healthy behaviors — specifically, limiting alcohol, minimizing fatty foods, avoiding tobacco and maintaining a healthy weight — and reduced breast cancer risk. However, those connections aren’t clear, and it’s not enough to rely on these measures alone to protect yourself. Regular mammograms are still vitally important, giving you the best chance of finding cancer early, when it can be treated most successfully.

The Portland Clinic and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend getting a mammogram every year or two beginning at age 40, and every year from 50 on. In addition, a clinical breast examination should be part of your annual checkup. Periodic breast self-examination also may help you stay alert for changes in your breasts.

Prostate cancer: Talk to your doctor about screening recommendations
While healthy behaviors may help, little is known about how to prevent prostate cancer. Annual digital rectal exams and PSA tests, beginning at 50, can help detect it. However, these tests may lead to procedures for slowgrowing cancers that might not have caused any harm if left alone. My advice is to discuss screening with your doctor so you can make an informed choice.

Colon cancer: Almost always preventable through regular screenings
Many theories suggest that regular exercise and a low-fat, high-fiber diet may reduce colon cancer risk, and while that’s not certain, it couldn’t hurt. However, the one proven way to prevent colon cancer is to get screened regularly. The gold standard for screening is colonoscopy, which gives doctors the ability to find pre-cancerous polyps and to remove them before they become cancerous. To prevent colon cancer, this screening must be done before you have any symptoms. Most people should get screened every 10 years beginning at age 50, or more often if polyps are found. If you have a family history of colon cancer, talk to your doctor about getting screened earlier and more often.

GET MORE INFORMATION ON CANCER PREVENTION FROM THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AT WWW.CANCER.ORG/DOCROOT/PED/PED_1.ASP