And Now For Some Good Healthcare News — Cancer Deaths Are on the Decline
For the last several months, we’ve been bombarded with news about how terrible our healthcare system is in the US. Hey - I WORK in healthcare. You don’t have to tell me there’s lots of room for improvement.
But today, there was a report of some GOOD US health news. YES — believe it or not — there actually IS good US health news! A study in the August 15th issue of the journal Cancer Research reported improvements in cancer outcome. The title of the article really says it all: The Decline in US Cancer Mortality in People Born since 1925. While the number of people who are affected by cancer has not changed considerably, those dying from their cancer has had a sharp decline. Among those people ages 35-45, there has been a 25% decline in cancer deaths. What this means is that the risk for getting cancer didn’t get better, but the likelihood that you would die from cancer was significantly decreased. The authors attributed this positive change to improvements in lifestyle behaviors (like reductions in cigarette smoking) and better early detection and cancer treatments. So kudos to those hardworking researchers struggling to find better methods for detection and more effective treatments to help battle cancer.
And what can YOU do today to help reduce your cancer risk? Here are a few proven changes you can make today and continue tomorrow:
Don’t use tobacco products
Eat nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids
Keep your weight in check
Exercise regularly — at least 30 minutes on 5 days each week
Limit excessive sun exposure
Drink only in moderation
Talk to your doctor about routine cancer screening tests
Check out the Reader’s Digest’s list of over 20 foods to add to your diet to reduce cancer risk. Foods like grapes, artichokes, and kiwifruit have been shown to reduce cancer risk. And for you Pittsburghers out there, you’ll be happy to know that beer and sauerkraut made the list of cancer-protective foods!
And if you want the scoop on cancer in dogs, check out information about canine cancer in Dog Magazine. In this article, veterinarian Dr. Ogilvie recommends several tips to reduce your dog’s risk for getting cancer:
Dr. Ogilvie’s tips for reducing cancer risk in pets:
Feed a high-quality, balanced diet with low amounts of simple carbohydrates and high amounts of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Give your pets regular exercise
Reduce pets’ exposure to industrial chemicals and tobacco smoke
So grab a handful of grapes, whistle for Fido and get started on your healthy, cancer-protective exercise program. You can also download a printable PDF FitAsFido exercise diary to make sure you’re getting in your necessary 150 minutes of total exercise each week. Want more tips? Order your copy of Fit As Fido today!
