Time to start planning for healthy you

Study links unhealthy behaviors to cancer rates

If you smoke, have a poor diet or other unhealthy behaviors, a new study may give you inspiration to change.

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly half of the cancer deaths in the United States are caused by unhealthy behaviors.

The study’s authors noted that 45 percent of cancer deaths and 42 percent of diagnosed cancer cases could be attributed to “modifiable” risk factors, meaning the risks are not inherited. Such modifiable behaviors include sun exposure, not eating enough fruits and veggies, drinking alcohol, smoking, eating red or processed meat, secondhand smoke and excess body weight.

The study even did a “by the numbers” look at cancer and modifiable risk factors, and it’s quite interesting:

• Smoking contributed to 81.7 percent of lung cancers, 78.3 percent of laryngeal cancers, 50 percent of esophageal cancers and 46.9 percent of bladder

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?

cancers.

• Excess body weight contributed to 60.3 percent of uterine cancers, one-third of liver cancers, 11.3 percent of breast cancers in women, and 5.2 percent of colorectal cancers.

• UV radiation contributed to 96 percent of melanomas of the skin in men and 93.7 percent of cases in women.

In fact, these lifestyle choices have a significant impact on overall health as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that making lifestyle changes such as avoiding tobacco, increasing physical activity and eating healthier could significantly reduce overall deaths in the United States.

On the bright side, a new year is right around the corner, so the time is right to make some resolutions and have a positive impact on your health.

After all, some of these risk factors are simple ones to improve upon. It’s easy to add in more fruits and veggies to the diet, and before you go outside, slather on that sunscreen. These are small first steps to take, and can eventually help you obtain bigger goals, such as eating less red meat, drinking less alcohol or breaking the smoking habit.

We often tend to put off ideas such as these until “later.” But too often, later never comes. This year, finish out 2017, and enjoy your vices. Then welcome 2018 with a healthy mindset and focus, and help reduce your cancer risk.

I was organizing a Christmas party for 150 people at Wintergarden’s Co Op Park. I thought it would be nice to buy little children’s socks to put candies in for a fun giveaway at the end of the party. The gentlemen at Arizona Market Place would sell 75 pairs for a good price. My husband and I were sitting having an ice cream cone in the entertainment area and trying to figure the price per sock. As the socks came 3 pair in a package, we had a bit of problem with our figuring. A lady named Francis asked us what our problem was. She very quickly did the figuring in her head. We talked some and then I mentioned that I might not want to spend that much for this part of the party supplies. She very promptly gave us $20 for the supplies. She said it would be more fun than just using plastic goodie bags. She said that she had just won a good $300 at the Casino and wanted to share her good luck. Yes, there is a Santa Claus. Thank you, Francis. The Christmas stockings were a huge success. We have now donated all the “empty” pairs of socks as well as candy to the Mission.