Cancer Facts

• Approximately 1500 people die each day due to some form of cancer.
• Second most common cause of death (2^nd only to heart disease).
• Cancer accounts for 1 out of every 4 deaths in the US .
• National Institutes of Health estimated the overall costs for cancer in 2005 - $209.9 Billion.
• Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women (more likely to occur after the age of 40).
• Clinical breast exams and mammograms are a key part to a woman’s health exam.  (should occur every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s, and every year for women 40 and older).
• Breast, colon, endometrial, ovarian, skin, cervical, and lung cancers are the most frequent cancers that affect women.
• Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men (typically older than 50 years old, and 70% of these cases are in men over 65).
• Prostate, lung, skin, and colon cancers are the most frequent cancers that affect men.
• Lung cancer is the most common cancer-related death in both men and women
• Smoking is responsible for more than 80% of all lung cancers.
• Most skin cancers can be prevented by avoiding being out in the midday sun for long periods of time.  Wear hats, long sleeve shirts, sunglasses and place sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on all exposed skin.
• 1/8^th of all skin cancers are melanoma, but over 75% of all skin cancer deaths are due to melanoma. (get to know your skin and changes in moles should alert suspicion)
• In the US alone, a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. When found early, oral cancers have an 80 to 90 % survival rate.
• Although often thought of as a primarily childhood disease, leukemia will often strike many more adults than children .
• Chemotherapy is the most effective method of treating leukemia

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