CANCER FACTS

• Nearly 17 million people are diagnosed and living with a form of cancer (Source: CDC).

• More than 200 forms of cancer (Source: CDC).

• Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells. Most cancers form tumors, but not all tumors are cancerous. Benign, or noncancerous, tumors — such as freckles and moles — stop growing, do not spread to other parts of the body, and do not create new tumors. Malignant, or cancerous, tumors crowd out healthy cells, interfere with body functions, and draw nutrients from body tissues (Source: WebMD).

• Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer in adults. Leukemia is the most common form for children (Source: CDC).

• 1 in 2 men will risk developing cancer. 1 in 4 risk dying from cancer (Source: American Cancer Society).

• 16% of men will risk developing prostate cancer (Source: American Cancer Society).

• 1 in 3 women will risk developing cancer. 1 in 5 will risk dying from cancer. (Source: American Cancer Society).

• 1 in 7 women will develop breast cancer. (Source: CDC)

• Prevention is key. Factors such as smoking and heavy drinking contribute to one’s risk of developing cancer (Source: American Cancer Society).

• Nearly 1 million people develop skin cancer that could have been prevented by staying in the shade and using proper sunscreen (Source: American Cancer Society).

• Early detection and prompt treatment are directly responsible for increased survival rates. Tools for cancer detection include : Self-exam, Biopsy (the removal of living tissue for the purpose of microscopic examination of cells), Ultrasound (the use of reflected high-frequency sound waves to differentiate various kinds of tissue), Computed tomography (CT) (the use of x-rays to produce a cross-sectional picture of body parts). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (the use of magnetic fields and radio waves to show changes in soft tissues without the use of x-rays). (Source: CDC)

• Diet helps prevent cancer. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains like pasta and bread, and limit foods high in saturated fat, like high-fat dairy products, processed meats (like bacon, hot dogs, and luncheon meats), and red meats (Source: American Cancer Society).

• It is also important to get to and stay at a healthy weight and get at least 30 to 45 minutes of physical activity on at least 5 days per week (Source: American Cancer Society).

• Certain cancers are related to infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), human papilloma virus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and others. Many of these could be prevented through behavioral changes, vaccines, or antibiotics (Source: American Cancer Society).