February is National Cancer Prevention Month. Please join C3 For Change in supporting important efforts to prevent cancer. It is so important to better understand the many factors which can cause cancer. Did you know there are ways to decrease the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Here is some very helpful knowledge about how to decrease the number of people diagnosed with cancer each year.
What Americans Don’t Know About Cancer
A national household survey sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) shows most Americans have concerns about cancer, but have gaps in their knowledge about what causes it. About 4,000 adults completed the survey, conducted by Harris Poll, in July. Questions focused on knowledge and attitudes about cancer.
Results were similar to those of previous survey findings from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Both surveys show most Americans are unaware that lifestyle factors including body weight, diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption raise cancer risk. The World Cancer Research Fund estimates that 20% of all cancers diagnosed in the US are related to these lifestyle factors.
Awareness of what causes cancer is the first step in making healthy behavior changes. And while living a healthier lifestyle is no guarantee that you won’t get cancer, it does make it less likely.
What causes cancer?
• 78% of people who completed the ASCO survey correctly identified smoking and tobacco as a major risk factor for cancer. Each year, more than 480,000 people in the US die from illnesses related to tobacco use. About half of all Americans who smoke and don’t quit will die because of it.
• But only 31% of respondents knew that obesity is a significant risk factor for cancer. Extra body weight is clearly linked to many cancer types including breast (in women past menopause), colon and rectal, endometrial, esophageal, kidney, and pancreatic cancers.
According to Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, managing director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society, “After staying away from tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight is the next most important thing any of us can do to help lower our cancer risk.”
• Only 38% of Americans knew that unhealthy food choices can raise cancer risk and only 30% knew that alcohol increased risk. The American Cancer Society recommends people eat at least 2½ cups of vegetables and fruits each day and for those who drink – limit alcohol to 1 drink a day for women and 2 for men.
• Only 25% knew that lack of physical activity is a cancer risk factor. The American Cancer Society recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (equal to a brisk walk) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity (makes your heartbeat and breathing faster, and makes you sweat) each week, preferably spread throughout the week. A combination is OK too.
• More than half of respondents – 66% – knew that sun exposure is a risk. However, only 48% reported using sunblock to reduce their likelihood of getting skin cancer.
• Only 20% of those who answered the survey knew that viruses can cause cancer. For example, human papillomavirus (HPV) causes most cases of cervical cancer, as well as many vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, throat, and tongue cancers. HPV vaccination helps prevent HPV-related cancers.
• A whopping 74% of respondents knew that family history and inherited factors can raise cancer risk. And while this is true, it is not what causes most cancer. In fact, only about 5% to 10% of all cancers are thought to result directly from problems with genes passed down from a parent.