Lifestyle Change and Cancer Deaths

Earlier this month, Kristen Gerencher at Dow Jones wrote “Lifestyle Changes Could Prevent Almost Half of Cancer Deaths” as found by the American Cancer Society. These lifestyle changes included:

• avoiding smoking and excessive sun exposure
• eating nutritiously
• getting regular exercise and recommended health screenings

However, many seem to have trouble following these recommendations. I know that I break many of these rules (I don’t always remember to put on sunscreen, I could be eating better, and I may forget to get screened). Thankfully, I don’t smoke: smoking exacerbates many conditions in addition to increasing different cancer risks.

The article also noted how Americans get hit with antismoking messages, but smoking still occurs in 1 in 5 adults. This is true. I can’t turn on TV without seeing at least one “stop smoking” advertisement (some of these are sponsored by tobacco companies trying to improve their image), yet around town I see adults and young adults lighting up cigarettes.

What is most insulting is when I had attended cancer scientific events like ASCO and AACR in the past, and I see physicians and researchers light up their cigarettes outside the convention center. I’ve seen the same things when I was in graduate school at Roswell Park, where nurses or healthcare staff gather outside to smoke.