Here are some other vital stats to know for better health over your lifetime.
&,”Skin Cancer
(www.cdc.gov)
Most common type of cancer in the US
Can be prevented in most cases by using sunscreen and avoiding prolonged sun exposure
Two-thirds of the youths in the United States do not practice effective sun protection
Being infected with HPV increases the risk of skin cancer
Over one million new skin cancer patients were diagnosed in 2002
Malignant melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer, and its frequency has more than doubled since 1973
Men are more likely to get skin cancer than women
People with light skin, hair and eye color are at a greater risk
While the average age at which cancer generally manifests in those studied is 60 years, young people are still at risk for colon, breast and skin cancers, according to a recent report by The Toronto Star.
Over a lifetime, those who will be most at risk are those with a family history of the disease, women who had their first menstrual period before age 12, and women who became mothers after age 30.
According to The Star, there are three “basic preventative measures” against cancer: not smoking, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet that is low in fat. Doing all three will decrease the occurrence of cancer by 30 to 40 percent.
Here are some other vital stats to know for better health over your lifetime.
Breast Cancer
(www.nationalbreastcancer.org)
Second-leading cause of cancer death in women
An estimated 43,300 women will die from the disease this year alone
Shown to be a “much more aggressive” disease in younger women
For every 100 women diagnosed, there will be one man diagnosed as well
85 percent of women diagnosed have no family history of the disease
70 percent of women diagnosed have no documented risk factors
Colon/Colorectal Cancer
(www.ccalliance.org)
Second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States (second to lung cancer)
Can be cured with surgeries and chemotherapy if located in early stages
Can occur in any person, male or female, regardless of age
Only 10 percent of colorectal cancers are hereditary
One out of every 18 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colon cancer in their lifetime.