Lifestyle May Effectively Reduce Cancer Burden

The American Cancer Society's 2012 “Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures” calls for improved collaboration between various entities interested in public health -- including government agencies, private companies, nonprofit groups, healthcare providers, policymakers, and the general population -- to reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.  Reporting that an estimated 577,000 people will die from cancer this year, about one-third caused by tobacco use and about one-third caused by poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and overweight and obesity, the American Cancer Society reports that much of the cancer burden in the US could be reduced with increased attention to preventing disease through lifestyle change – namely, by reducing tobacco use, improving diet, exercising, losing weight, and an expanded use of established screening tests.  The Society urges that:  “Public policy and legislation at the federal, state, and local levels can increase access to preventive health services, including cancer screening.”