April 1, 2005

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is uniting with communities across the country as it proclaims April as National Cancer Control Awareness Month.

Designating such a month aims to increase awareness of prevention, detection, and treatment methods as well as to give support to cancer patients and survivors.

“Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Americans, exceeded only by heart disease,” said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health. “Therefore it is paramount that we recognize months designed to educate our Michigan citizens on cancer prevention, and to rededicate ourselves to the fight against this devastating disease.”

According to estimates from the American Cancer Society, 20,860 people in Michigan will die of cancer and 50,220 new cancer cases in Michigan will be diagnosed in 2005. Anyone is susceptible to cancer, but 76 percent of all cancers are diagnosed in people age 55 and older.

Regular screening examinations by a health care provider can result in the prevention and early detection of cervical and colorectal cancers through discovery and removal of precursor lesions.

Cancers that can be prevented or detected earlier by screening account for about half of all new cancer cases. Helping to reduce the risk of cancer can be accomplished by:

• Eliminating cigarettes and any other kind of tobacco from your life
• Eating a lot of different fruits and vegetables every day while reducing fatty foods
• Moderating your consumption of alcohol
• Increasing your daily physical activity level
• Protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays

For more information about National Cancer Control Awareness Month, please visit www.michigan.gov/mdch.