Last week at the American Cancer Society board meeting, I was again struck by the realization that approximately 70 percent of all cancer deaths could be averted by simply applying what we know.
Tobacco use, lack of age-appropriate cancer screenings, unhealthy eating, lack of physical activity and lack of access to the highest quality treatment all account for this large percentage of cancer deaths.
We must all rededicate our efforts to eliminate tobacco use, encourage age-appropriate screening, promote healthy eating and physical activity, and assure access to quality treatment. This will require a concerted effort from policy makers, organizations, schools, churches, cancer centers and others.
If we were completely compliant with all of this, there would be almost 750 fewer deaths from cancer every day.
-Ed Partridge, M.D.
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