HHS HealthBeat (July 06, 2007)

Does everything cause cancer?

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat

Do you think just about everything causes cancer, and there’s not much you can do about it? A lot of people do, but Jeff Niederdeppe of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, says it’s wrong.

Niederdeppe reviewed survey data that indicated almost half of Americans think almost everything causes cancer. More than a quarter think there’s little they can do to prevent it.  His study, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health, was in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

People who didn’t think they could do much didn’t do much. But Niederdeppe says they’re missing a big opportunity:

``Scientists estimate that 30 percent of cancer deaths are attributable to smoking, and another 20 percent are attributable to obesity.’’ (six seconds)

Not smoking, controlling your weight, getting exercise and eating your fruits and veggies are big steps you can take.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: July, 06 2007