Cancer Prevention

Cancer Prevention
The American Cancer Society reported in the Cancer Facts & Figures 2005 report that “About 5% to 10% of all cancers are clearly hereditary, in that an inherited genetic alteration predisposes the person to a very high risk of particular cancers.”

Their 2010 report states “ About 5% of all cancers are strongly hereditary, in that an inherited genetic alteration confers a very high risk of developing one or more specific types of cancer.’

There are two points of concern I would like to bring to your attention. First, a clear “5% to 10%” has dropped to a strong “5%” within a five year period. Their studies have convinced them that even though more Americans are being diagnosed daily with cancer, it is believed that less and less are derived from heredity factors.

Secondly, if only 5% of all cancers are hereditary, what is causing the 95% of all the rest of the cancer diagnoses. I find these numbers alarming and there appears to be no real organization trying to find the answers.

It is well documented that cigarette smoking is very harmful to the body and can cause cancer and many other afflictions. Yes, I feel it to be true that being overweight or obese, physical inactivity and poor nutrition can lead to health problems. Certain cancers may be related to hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV), HIV, Epstien Barr, and Helicobactor pylorie. However, 95% is a large number and all of these problems do not make up the 95%.

We need to start assessing what is happening to or in our country that is causing all the cancer population. It appears we are on a path of slow suicide and we do not even recognize it. We Americans live in a wonderful “Land of milk and honey.” We have many things at our finger tips and sometimes take it for granted. Nevertheless, is some of this milk and honey killing us? What is in our environment that could be provoking our bodies to spread abnormal cells (cancer cells) instead of producing healthy cells?