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Smoking cessation reduces lung cancer mortality

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 0 comments
A new rigorous analysis funded by the National Cancer Institute is published this month in the JNCI. Moolgavkar and colleagues (see report) now estimate that over 790,000 lung cancer deaths have been avoided by cessation from cigarette smoking since the 1964 Surgeon General's first Report on Smoking and Health was released. This represents only a fraction of all deaths that can be avoided by more comprehensive implementation of what we know works for tobacco control. 


A detailed report from the CDC estimates that each year cigarette smoking and exposure to second hand smoke cause over 400,000 or 1 in 5 deaths. See Tobacco Control State Highlights 2010 for a detailed break down by state. This report highlights how substantial the range of implementation of effective and proven programs is, even within the US, where policies and practice vary enormously from one state to the next. 


Implementing programs that we know work can reduce the burden of not just lung cancer, but many other chronic diseases which drive up costs of health care in this country. To see how much risk is reduced for individuals who stop smoking, go to our web site Your Disease Risk. More details are also provided in our Prevention Snapshot accessed through the tab above.

"Your Disease Risk" to be Featured in NCI Webinar on Risk Assessment Tools

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 0 comments
Don't miss out.  Our award-winning website Your Disease Risk (yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu) will be a featured part of next week's NCI webinar: "Communication Science and Online Risk Assessment Tools."

Launched in January 2000, Your Disease Risk has been a steady and trust-worthy source of personalized estimates of disease risk and tips for prevention. Drs Graham Colditz and Erika Waters will review the history, science, and theory behind the site's long-term success in their presentation: "Your Disease Risk: The Culmination of 17 Years of Transdisciplinary Research."

Webinar details:
Communication Science and Online Risk Assessment Tools
March 22, 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT.
Registration day-of @ 1:00pm EDT - limited to first 250


You Can Prevent Colorectal Cancer

Friday, March 9, 2012 0 comments
Colorectal cancer kills over 50,000 Americans each year. Lung cancer is the only cancer that kills more people. Both men and women can get colorectal cancer, and it usually strikes those over the age of 50.

The good news: Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. No matter what your age, there is a lot you can do to lower your risk of getting the disease - from getting regular screening tests to making healthy changes to your lifestyle. 

Use this guide to decide which changes you should make. Start with a few. Then move on to the others. Remember to talk to a health care professional before making any big changes in your lifestyle.

Screening
The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screening tests on a regular basis after age 50. These tests can find non-cancerous tumors, called polyps, that sometimes turn into cancer. By finding polyps early and having them removed, you can prevent cancer from starting.

The screening tests aren’t as uncomfortable as you might think, and the benefits make them well worth it.

Talk to a health care professional about which screening test might be right for you. If you are at increased risk for colorectal cancer, you may start screening earlier than most people.

Start getting screened at age 50, using one of the following:
  • Home fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
  • Barium enema every 5 years
  • Virtual colonoscopy every 5 years
  • Colonoscopy every 10 years
  • Stool DNA test (ask doctor how often)

Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day
A lot of things count as physical activity. Try walking, jogging or dancing—whatever you enjoy! In general, the more activity you get, the better. And any amount is better than none.

Maintain a healthy weight
The best way to maintain a healthy weight is to be physically active and make healthy food choices. Body mass index is a good way to gauge how you’re doing with your weight. Visit this link to see where you fall: BMI calculator.

Eat no more than 2 to 3 servings of red meat a week
The less red meat you eat, the better. Choose chicken, fish, or beans instead of beef, pork, lamb, or veal. A serving of cooked meat is 3 ounces—the size of a deck of cards.

Take a multivitamin with folate every day
Taking a multivitamin with folate (also called folic acid) can give you added protection against colorectal cancer.

Have no more than one alcoholic drink a day
Drinking alcohol increases your risk of colorectal cancer, but it can have positive and
negative effects on your health. Talk to a health care professional about how alcohol may affect you.

Get your calcium every day
Low-fat dairy products, like milk and yogurt, are the best sources of calcium.Daily calcium supplements, calcium-fortified foods like orange juice, and darkgreen leafy vegetables are good too. Try to get about 1,000 – 1,200 mg a day.

Get your vitamin D every day
In addition to being good for bone health, vitamin D can help lower the risk of colon cancer. Supplements are usually the best choice since not many food are rich in the vitamin. Try to get about 1,000 mg a day.
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A note on aspirin: Long term daily use of a single aspirin (325mg) can lower the risk of colorectal cancer. Aspirin can also have some serious side effects for some people. Talk to a health care professional before you start taking it regularly. 
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