Tobacco use, physical inactivity, obesity, and poor nutrition are the major preventable causes of cancer and other diseases in the United States. In fact, scientific evidence suggests that approximately one-third of the estimated 563,700 cancer deaths expected to occur in 2004 will be related to poor nutrition, physical inactivity, overweight, obesity, and other lifestyle factors. Moreover, the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2004 more than 180,000 cancer deaths will be caused by tobacco use.1-3 Each year the American Cancer Society provides updated information on modifiable risk factors for cancer in this publication, Cancer Prevention & Early Detection (CP ED) Facts & Figures , a companion publication of Cancer Facts & Figures. This year, for the first time, CPED Facts & Figures also highlights community, legislative, and environmental policies that can influence health behaviors and accelerate progress in prevention and early detection. We describe success stories in local, state, and national efforts to facilitate tobacco avoidance, physical activity, and healthy diets. Also for the first time, this edition of CPED Facts & Figures separates the discussion of cancer prevention measures in children and adolescents from the information on cancer prevention in adults. The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. In 1999, the Society set bold challenge goals for the nation that, if met, would significantly lower cancer incidence and mortality rates and improve the quality of life for all cancer survivors by the year 2015. The American Cancer Society has also developed nationwide objectives that set the framework for achieving the 2015 goals. These objectives can be achieved by improved collaboration among government agencies, private companies, other nonprofit organizations, health care providers, policy- makers, insurers, and the American public…

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This American Cancer Society publication, Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 2000 (formerly known as the Cancer Risk Report: Prevention and Control ), provides the most current data on tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity, obesity, and cancer screening for the nation, the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and selected cities. Prevention through smoking cessation, better nutrition, (more…)

The facts • At least 50 per cent of cancers can be prevented through healthy living and policies that protect the public. • Prevention, or risk reduction, means taking action to reduce our individual risk of developing cancer. • While risk can be increased or decreased by the lifestyle choices we make or the kind of environment we live and work in, even a person at low risk may get cancer, (more…)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides leadership for nationwide efforts to reduce illness and death caused by skin cancer, which is likely the most common form of cancer in the United States. The message of CDC’s Skin Cancer Primary Prevention and Education Initiative is clear: When in the sun, seek shade, cover up, get a hat, wear sunglasses, and use sunscreen. (more…)

In 1979 the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination identified cancers of the oral cavity as a potentially preventable cause of major morbidity and mortality. At the time, early detection was considered possible but the quality of evidence supporting the effectiveness of preventive strategies and the effectiveness of treatments for oral cancers was limited (C Recommendation). Review (more…)

The treatment of brain cancers is limited by the inadequacy in delivering therapeutic agents in such a way that drug molecules reach the desired targets. In order to achieve efficient treatments of central nervous system (CNS) cancers, it is necessary to transport therapeutic agents across the specialized vascular system of the brain, the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which can present formidable challenges. (more…)

Cellphones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons for Concern has been prepared to enable balanced reporting on this important subject. It provides information on scientific findings from studies on the risk of brain tumors from cellphone use. It includes studies independent of industry funding as well as telecommunicationsindustry funded studies. Further, it includes background information on the soon (more…)

Each year, an estimated 22,000 adults in the United States are diagnosed with primary malignant tumors of the brain. These are tumors that originate in the brain. Primary brain tumors are named according to the type of cells or the part of the brain in which they begin. The most common primary brain tumors are gliomas. They begin in glial cells, which are the supportive cells of the brain. Glial cells surround and hold (more…)

Glioblastoma multiforme, the most common of malignant brain tumors in adults, is one of the deadliest of all forms of cancer. Striking some 18,000 new victims in the United States every year, the disease is always fatal, usually within six months of onset. Surgery and conventional radiation therapies may prolong life for up to a year, but cannot stop the tumors from continuing to spread throughout (more…)

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Until recently, the detection of lung cancer occurred in its most advanced stages. But a new screening technique with low dose CT scanning is making it possible to detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable. There are several known risk factors for lung cancer, including: Cigarette smoking-Smokers have a significantly (more…)