THE BRIGHT SIDE
February is National Cancer Prevention Month.
Nearly everyone who receives a life-changing diagnosis asks if there was anything they could have done to prevent it. National Cancer Prevention Month tackles that question during February. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 1.9 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. Nearly half of those diagnoses are breast, prostate, lung, pancreas, or colon cancer. And yet, more than 40 percent of all cancer diagnoses can be linked to a preventable cause – nearly half.
National Cancer Prevention Month focuses on the things we can control to lessen our odds of developing cancer. Five of the top recommendations for lessening our risk include regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy foods, quitting or never starting smoking, and limiting alcohol use. Other actions that help to prevent cancer or catch it early include routine checkups, treating or preventing other health conditions, and knowing your risk factors. Take prevention seriously in February and learn more about lessening your risk factors.
