Cancer prevention in 2009
Wednesday, January 7th, 2009This post comes from Christine Sardo, LIVESTRONG.COM’s Expert for Nutrition and Cancer Prevention and Survivorship.
There is so much to look forward to in the year ahead. New research is on the horizon in the areas of cancer prevention and survivorship, cancer treatments and technologies, and in the areas of cancer screening and early detection. The quest to win the war on cancer through improved prevention and treatment will continue to skyrocket and provide yet another level of optimism as more people survive this disease.
As you probably know, the number of cancer survivors continues to climb – there are currently over 14 million cancer survivors living in the United States, a number that has almost quadrupled since the 1970’s. It’s encouraging to think about how far we’ve come, and the potential that lies ahead. While science and medical technology has provided incredible advances, the passionate and empowered patient has also significantly contributed to the successes we’ve seen in beating this disease. Having the will and motivation to change/improve their diet when they would rather stick to their same old comfort foods (up to one-third of cancers are related to the foods that we eat); engaging in physical activity on days when they just don’t feel up to it; writing and journaling to keep track of progress and writing future goals to improve overall well-being; maintaining and developing relationships to keep a healthy-state-of mind and reduce stress; joining support groups and reaching out to others for social support; and developing support groups to bring people together to laugh, share ideas, and collectively come up with new ways of coping with the ups and downs of treatment, care, quality of life, and ultimately survivorship.
Cancer patients are truly amazing. The power of the patient is one that cannot be ignored – they provide the life force and the energy beyond what the treatments provide and the care that they ultimately receive. And all of their caretakers – the families, friends, and loved ones who don’t give up, who are right by the patients side whenever they need them, who comfort them and support their decisions, who absorb their pain and hold their hand through the good times and bad, who think about them and pray for them each and every day—the caretakers also contribute to the astonishing and encouraging number of cancer survivors alive and well today.
There are so many factors that will contribute beating cancer. Fighting the war on cancer in 2009 will come with new challenges, new hope, and will likely change in the landscape of cancer as we know it today.
It’s exciting to think about what lies ahead in the next year, I hope that we all can find ways (and time) to exercise more, smoke less, eat more of the right foods, manage stress through healthy relationships and strive for work-life balance, and take time to spend quality time with those we love. All of these things will put us on the right track to living a life that promotes health and prevents disease.
Wishing you the best for a healthy and happy 2009 –
Christine
Visit Christine’s profile and learn more about cancer prevention and survivorship.
