Embed Doc
Copy Link
Readcast
Collections

CommentGo Back

Wier 1Haley Wier English IV – 3

PeriodMr. Werts16 December 2008Cancer PreventionCancer is an epidemic. One in every three Americans will be diagnosed withcancer in their life time and three in every four families will have to care for a familymember with cancer (Facts and Figures 5). With out a cure, cancer patient’s only optionsare to undergo chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Treatments which often times do notget rid of the cancer. And although chemotherapy is sometimes successful, 75% of doctors say they would not go through chemotherapy because it is “too dangerous andhighly ineffective” (Philip Day 53).The current survival rate for cancer is only 62%. It’s ascary number that leaves patients and their family hoping and praying a miracle.Cancer how ever can be prevented in some cases. The American Cancer Societyreleased a study saying that “At most 15% of cancers are due – and only in part – inherited genetic defects.” (Facts and Figures 9) Meaning the remaining 85% percent of cancers are preventable. Not only can certain types of cancer be prevented but up to 40%of overall cancer cases can be completely avoided, and when your looking at a survivalrate of 62% that 40% seems a lot bigger (Shreiber 2). Until a cure is found, cancer prevention may be the only hope to the 1.4 million people being diagnosed with cancer each year (Facts and Figures 5).Prevention would include educating and spreading cancer awareness, just like is being done in Africa to help young women from becoming infected with HIV. Americans

Wier 2for the most part are clueless or at least playing dumb when it comes to cancer. Peopleneed to learn what is harmful to their bodies. Health professional Jason Christoff says“Pollution starts cancer, the more toxic the substance the higher the rate of cancer and premature death.” (Christoff 4). If people know what to stay away from and know theconsequences of their life styles they are much more likely to change their life style or goin for regular cancer screenings.Once educated, people start their new cancer preventing way of life. A healthyway of living, which will not only prevent cancer but other diseases as well. A cancer preventing way of life starts with regular exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight.Processed foods are no longer part of the diet, alcohol intake is limited and tobacco banned. Good healthy habits will influence the habits of the next generation. Childrenwill learn the importance of eating their vegetables, wearing sunscreen and getting a fullnights rest.Along with proper diet and exercise vaccines and regular cancer screenings play a big part in cancer prevention. Vaccines for things like HPV, can tremendously decreasethe number of people who die from cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine can prevent 70%of the 11,000 cervical cancer deaths each year (Facts and Figures 68). Regular check upsas an adult can be extremely beneficial to the prevention of cancer as well. Doctors areable to spot potentially cancerous problems and put and end to them before they can doany harm. No matter how many precautions are taken to prevent cancer, cancer will stillexist until the cure is found. Prevention is the first step to the cure though. If people live