Cancer...GO AWAY!!!

I’m writing this today with tears in my eyes.  I have lost yet another relative to cancer.  This time it was my lovely Aunt Betty who has been suffering with brain tumors for a couple years.  She fought a good fight and those of us left here on earth are trying to think of this day as her graduation day.  She has made it through this world of pain and trauma, and now she walks with her Lord in glory.  But, yet it is hard.  Hard because her body has ceased to live.

Hard because we all still feel so helpless when given that diagnosis of cancer.  True, science has made remarkable progress preventing and even curing cancer, but yet, it’s not a lot of comfort today when I remember what cancer did to two of my aunts.  They both died far too young—not even reaching that golden retirement age of 65.

I read one of those canned platitudes today on Facebook:  “It’s your road and yours alone.  Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.”  It kind of made me wonder—is there something different I should be doing on my walk on the earth to prolong it?  To ensure health and to ward off cancer.  Is there something I can do to help my loved ones walk their walk away from cancer?

I did a little research and found a few interesting bits of information:

·         1/4 to 1/3 of new cancer cases are believed to be preventable if only we increase activity and nutrition, and decrease obesity

·         Consume a healthy diet with an emphasis on plant foods

·         Limit consumption of red meats and processed meats

·         Eat at least 2 and 1/2 cups of vegetables and fruits daily

·         Eat whole grains, not refined-grain products

·         Consumption of potatoes and sugar-sweetened beverages seem to have a link to cancer

·         Excessive sun exposure should be avoided

·         Tobacco use should be avoided as well – both smoking and smokeless tobaccos

·         Unfortunately, most Americans have the knowledge that they should eat healthier, but they fail to follow through

·         Early detection is the best way to prevent another cancer fatality

The statistics are alarming:

·         In 2013 the estimates are that over a half million Americans will die of cancer—almost 1600 per day.

·         Globally, the cancer burden is grow­ing at an alarming pace; in 2030 alone, about 21.3 million new cancer cases and 13.1 million cancer deaths are expected to occur, simply due to the growth and aging of the population.

·         Cancer is second only to heart disease as the most common cause of death in the US

·         An estimated 174,000 cancer deaths in 2013 will be caused by tobacco usage

There is some good news:  The survival rate has increased significantly in the past 30 years. 

·         For all cancers diagnosed between 2002 and 2008, the relative survival rate is now 68%

·         In 1975-1977 that survival rate was 49%

So, on this eve of our Independence Day, I ask you to liberate yourself from the road that may lead to another cancer fatality.  Get those early screenings:  mammograms, colonoscopies, routine blood work—and pay attention to your diet.  Make time to be active and give up the nicotine habit.  And true, there are many, many wonderful people who have followed this good advice and it didn’t seem to help one bit—they still died from cancer.  But why take a chance?  We live in the greatest nation on earth, and I hope to live to celebrate dozens of more Independence Days!  Don’t you?

Salute!