Educational Information About Cancer:

Creator’s Canvas Cancer Research Foundation is dedicated to helping find cures for cancer because of facts like these:

1. One in three people will develop cancer.

2. One in four people will die of cancer.

3. In 2005, about 1.4 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed.

4. More than 1500 Americans died of cancer each day this year.

5. Over 1,000,000 cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year.

6. Cancer is the leading cause of death of Americans under the age of 85.

 

Warning Signs of Cancer

        1.    Unexplained weight loss.

  2.    Persistent hoarseness.

        3.    Any sore that does not heal.

        4.    Unusual bleeding or discharge from anywhere.

        5.    Difficulty swallowing.

        6.    Pink or red urine.

        7.    A lump or thickening in the breast or anywhere.

        8.    Changes in size or color of a wart or mole.

        9.    Prolonged fever.

        10.  Change in bowel habits.

        11.  Persistent indigestion.

        12.  Persistent cough or sore throat.

Seven Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk

1.    Include more fruits and vegetables in your diet.

2.    Maintain healthy weight.

3.    If you smoke, quit.  If you don’t smoke, don’t start.

4.    Increase the amount of fiber in your diet.

5.    Limit alcohol intake.

6.    Avoid excess sun exposure and wear a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.

7.    Know the warning signs for common cancers and perform self exams.

Reduce Your Cancer Risk Through Better Nutrition

1.  Eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day cuts your cancer risk by 50% compared to people who eat one serving or less.  Apples, oranges, corn and carrots are healthy choices.

2.  Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and turnips stimulate the immune system and help protect against colon, stomach, and respiratory cancers.

3.  When you’re in a hurry, use your microwave to cook cancer-fighting vegetables.   Research shows that vegetables cooked in the microwave retain 80-100% of their nutrients.

4.  Tomatoes, especially in processed food product such as ketchup and tomato sauce, contain a powerful anti-cancer pigment called lycopene that may lower your risk for developing cancer.

5.  Eating foods high in the provitamin beta-carotene (like carrots, yams, and mangos) may suppress the cancer process in cells that have been exposed to carcinogens.

Take Time This Summer to Safeguard Your Health

Preventing skin cancer is much easier than curing it—

Follow these tips:

·       Use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15.  Use it even on hazy days, since the harmful UV rays can still get through.

·       Because the PABA (para-amino-benzoic acid) in most sunscreens blocks UV-B rays, but not UV-A, be sure to choose a brand that contains benzophenones or zinc oxide to also block UV-A rays.

·       Be sure to put your sunscreen on about a half-hour before you go outside.

·       If your fun-in-the-sun involves water (swimming, boating, water skiing, etc.), remember to reapply sunscreen after getting wet.  Also reapply if you are exercising enough to perspire.

·       Wear a hat with a brim wide enough to shade your ears, back of the neck and face.

·       Wear sunglasses that block UV radiation (which can cause cataracts in the eyes).

·       If you take any over-the-counter or prescription drugs, ask your doctor or pharmacist if they increase sun sensitivity.

·       Stay away from tanning booths and lamps.  Since they also use UV rays, including UV-A, they are no safer than natural sunlight.