June 2009 Archives

Last Monday, June 22, 2009, President Obama signed the strongest anti-smoking law in the history of the United States. The new law, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, gives the Food and Drug Administration more authority to regulate tobacco products and marketing.

With the passing of the new law, the FDA will now be able to lower the amount of nicotine in tobacco products, ban flavorings that appeal to children and teens such as candy and fruit flavored tobacco, block misleading labels and ban marketing campaigns directed towards children. It also requires tobacco companies to list all of the toxins and additives found in their products as well as have larger, more effective warning labels on their packaging. 

Each day 3,500 children pick up and smoke their first cigarette. Approximately 1,000 children a day will become addicted smokers. With the help of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act this amount will hopefully decrease and we will become one step closer to a smoke free, cancer free America.

Joe Zeno is walking across the United States in support of the American Cancer Society. During his recent walk through Springfield, Mo, he was featured on KY-3. Hear his story http://www.ky3.com/news/local/48735692.html and read his blog http://www.joewalks.com/

Slip! on a Shirt

When you're out in the sun cover up with comfortable clothing that is made of tightly woven fabrics that you can't see through when held up to a light.

Slop! on Sunscreen.

You should apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher 15 to 20 minutes before going outdoors. Don't forget to reapply, especially after you go swimming, sweat or towel off to dry.

Slap! on a Hat

Protect your face, neck and ears by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. If you wear a baseball cap, don't forget to apply sunscreen to your ears and neck.

Wrap on Sunglasses

Wear sunglasses with 99-100% UV absorption for the best sun protection.

The suns rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. so if you can, it's best to avoid the sun during these times. Also, the sun's UV rays can travel through clouds, so even when it's cloudy or overcast don't forget to Slip! Slop! Slap!

Below is a portion of an e-mail from a 19-year old event chair from a Relay for Life in the High Plains division about how a dare at Relay just might have saved his life.

I shaved my head at Relay because we met goal and I was dared to do so if we reached goal.  Saturday after Relay when I had showered and rested, my mom was looking over my new, super short haircut and noticed an odd looking, brown spot that she insisted I get checked out.  I finally got into a dermatologist the day after Memorial Day and had a biopsy done on the spot.  From then until last week, we went back and forth with trying to get information from the doctor.  It turns out he as he put it, "did not know what [he] was looking at" so he sent it to M.D. Anderson.  Well last Friday, June 12, we received a phone call.  The doctor had received the results from M.D. Anderson and I was diagnosed with Melanoma.  

So I would like to THANK YOU all for a successful event this year and for daring me to shave my head.  Had we not met goal, and I not chaired, and not got dared then I would still be unaware that I have Melanoma.

Of the one million people diagnosed with skin cancer, approximately 60,000 will be diagnosed with melanoma which is the most serious type. When diagnosed early, melanoma can be cured. So make sure to follow the sun safety tips and examine your skin, it could save your life!

With Father's Day on June 21, now is the perfect time to learn about what you can do to protect you and your loved ones against prostate cancer.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men. In the United States alone, it is estimated that there will be over 192,000 new cases this year. The prostate is a gland found only in men and is located between the bladder and rectum. It starts developing before birth and keeps growing until adulthood. Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the prostate gland grow uncontrollably and create tumors. In most cases prostate cancer develops very slowly, and some men will never even know that they have it.

Who's at Risk?

For the most part, prostate cancer develops in men age 50 and over, and two out of every three cases occur in men over 65. African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer, although reasons for this are still unknown. Genetics and a family history of prostate cancer also increase the risk of developing the disease.

What YOU Can Do

Studies have shown that eating a diet lower in red meats and fats, and higher in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help reduce the risk for developing prostate cancer in some cases.

Prostate cancer can be detected early by taking a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE).The American Cancer Society recommends that men age 50 and over should talk to their doctor about testing and decide what is best for them.

Men at high risk for developing prostate cancer, African American men and men with a close relative diagnosed before age 65, should talk to their doctor at age 45. Men with an even higher risk, those with several close relatives diagnosed at an early age, should talk to their doctor about testing even earlier.

Good News

The good news about prostate cancer is that when detected early, the survival rate is excellent! For all men with prostate cancer that were treated more than five years ago, the relative five-year survival rate is 100 percent, the relative 10-year survival rate is 91 percent and the relative 15-year survival rate is 76 percent. With new methods for finding and treating prostate cancer, the outlook for successful treatment is only getting better!

For more information about prostate cancer visit www.cancer.org.