Following on the news of the drop in
cancer deaths for the second consecutive year, the American Cancer Society
is launching the Great American Health Challenge to educate and motivate
Americans to take action to reduce their cancer risk. Many Americans are
concerned about potentially developing cancer, but in fact, at least 50
percent of cancer deaths could be prevented through healthy lifestyle
factors, including not smoking or using other tobacco products, maintaining
a healthy body weight, getting sufficient physical activity, eating a
healthy diet, limiting consumption of alcohol, and getting cancer screening
tests. Research indicates that cutting cancer death rates by 50 percent
nationally would save about 280,000 lives every year in the United States.
"A recent American Cancer Society survey found that 59 percent of adult
Americans(i) are concerned personally about getting cancer," said Richard
C. Wender, MD, president, American Cancer Society Board of Directors.
"We're launching the Great American Health Challenge to provide tools and
support to make it easier for people to take steps that could reduce their
cancer risk."
The Great American Health Challenge, a year-long program, encourages
Americans to make a commitment to take the following actions to reduce
their cancer risk, or detect cancer when it is most treatable:
Check
Find out which cancer screening tests are appropriate based on
age and family history, and discuss these with your doctor. Screening
can prevent cancer or detect it at its earliest, most treatable stage.
In January, take the Great American Health Check.
Move
Be physically active most days of the week; strive for at least
30 minutes of exercise -- over and above your usual activities -- on
five or more days.
Nourish
Aim for a healthy body weight and eat a well-balanced diet
that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and limit
consumption of red meats, especially high fat and processed meats. In
August, participate in the Great American Eat Right Challenge.
Quit
Stop smoking, or join the fight against tobacco as an advocate
for smoke-free communities. In November, participate in the Great
American Smokeout(R).
"The Great American Health Challenge can make a tremendous difference
for all of us," said celebrity fitness trainer Jillian Michaels. "Having
lost three family members to cancer, I joined this campaign to help
encourage and inspire others to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors. To
get started, log on to cancer/greatamericans and take the
Great American Health Check. It will help you learn which cancer screenings
are right for you, and will provide information on diet and exercise.
You'll find you're looking good, feeling great, and reducing your cancer
risk at the same time."
Consumer surveys indicate that the timing is right to encourage
Americans to participate in the Great American Health Challenge. When
questioned about four of the behaviors promoted as part of the Great
American Health Challenge, (not smoking, getting regular cancer screenings,
and meeting Society guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption and
physical activity), 22 percent of respondents meet three of the four
recommendations, fifty-nine percent meet two out of the four
recommendations, and only four percent meet all four recommendations.
"We are encouraged that many Americans already are engaging in some of
the key healthy behaviors that we know can make a difference," said Dr.
Wender. "There is still progress to be made in cancer prevention and early
detection, and the Great American Health Challenge is one way the Society
is working to help educate people about what they can do to reduce their
risk of cancer."
The Great American Health Check, which is the first step in the Great
American Health Challenge, assesses an individual's risk factors for cancer
based on age, gender, height, weight, family history of cancer, dietary
habits, physical activity levels, and alcohol and tobacco use and provides
a customized action plan. Easy-to-use and confidential, this interactive
online tool (cancer/greatamericans) allows users to enter
information for themselves or a loved one, and results in an individualized
action plan that provides guidance on which cancer screening tests are
appropriate based on age and family history and should be discussed with a
doctor. It also offers day-to-day lifestyle suggestions on how to eat
healthy, get the right amount of exercise, limit alcohol use and quit
smoking.
Screening can detect cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix,
prostate, oral cavity, and skin at early stages, when treatment is more
likely to be successful. In addition, tests for cervical and colorectal
cancer may detect changes in cells before they become cancerous. The
five-year survival rate for cancers that can be prevented or detected
earlier by screening is about 86 percent, a percentage which reflects real
reductions in cancer deaths as well as earlier diagnosis because of
screening.
The Great American Health Check will be followed later this year by
other Great American Health Challenge components that address nutrition,
physical activity and tobacco use. In August 2007, the Great American Eat
Right Challenge will provide practical advice and personalized tips on
adopting healthy eating habits and getting regular physical activity to
maintain a healthy body weight. The 31st anniversary of the American Cancer
Society's Great American Smokeout(R) will take place in November 2007, and
will continue its history of inspiring and helping smokers to quit.
The Society estimates that in 2007 about 168,000 cancer deaths will be
caused by tobacco, and scientific evidence suggests that about one-third of
the cancer deaths that occur in the U.S. each year are due to nutrition and
physical activity factors, including excess weight. For the majority of
Americans who do not use tobacco, dietary choices and physical activity are
the most important modifiable factors in cancer risk.
For more information on the Great American Health Challenge log on
to cancer/greatamericans.
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a
major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing
cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913
and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional
Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of
volunteers across the United States. For more information visit cancer/.
(i)This survey was conducted for the American Cancer Society using Porter
Novelli's Styles survey respondents who are members of Synovate's
Consumer Opinion Panel. The original Styles mail survey was conducted
in June 2006 with 13,260 respondents. For this study, telephone
interviews were conducted from November 28 - December 11, 2006 among a
random sample of 1,244 Styles respondents.
American Cancer Society
cancer/