One out of three Americans will get cancer before they die. Who is at the highest risk?
Dr. David Nanus, an oncologist who has been treating cancer patients for over twenty years, says that "If you're obese or overweight, you have an increased incidence in a number of cancers". Nanus also tells CBS news that someone with a family history, someone who smokes, has a high fat diet and does not exercise are in the highest risk category for developing cancer in their lifetime.
According to the American Cancer Institute about one third of cancer deaths in 2006 were related to nutrition, physical inactivity and being overweight or obese -- and could have been prevented.
Nanus also says that "The biggest problem is the fear factor. People are so afraid of being diagnosed with cancer they wait. Even waiting three months can mean a difference between life and death.
1. Maybe one day the medieval stigma attached to the word "cancer" will vanish, and people will no longer fear getting screened. All it takes is one cell too many, yet many people would still rather not know. Ignorance kills.
Richard Day Gore
Posted at 1:03PM on Mar 29th 2007 by richard day gore