Women and Cancer: Action is Power

As many of you know, I am a cancer survivor and I am a HUGE proponent of beating the disease.  One of the first things that you can do as a woman, and a man for that matter, is to get yourself checked out on a regular basis.  Most cancers can be treated if detected early.  I have included an article from “A Healthy Tomorrow” published by Loma Linda Medical Center, in its entirety for your information.  Please read it, visit the website listed and make sure to get yourself checked out regularly.

“Women and Cancer: Action is Power

For many women, it seems, knowledge about cancer does not always translate into action.  As evidence, a recent survey by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) found that more than 76 percent of women feel they know how they can reduce their risk for cancer.  However, only about half of these women feel they are doing enough to reduce their risk.

Survey Findings

According to ACOG, there may be several reasons why women are not doing more to help themselves detect and prevent cancer. 

For one, women are afraid of cancer.  In fact, 20 percent of survey respondents admit that they do not want to know if they have cancer.  However, early detection of cancer can go a long way toward successful treatment.

Another reason many women forgo cancer screenings is that they have no family history of the disease.  This, they believe, means they are at low risk of developing cancer themselves.  But this is simply not true.  While family history is a risk factor for the disease, most cancers occur in people whose family members are cancer-free.

ACOG Takes Action

In response to these and other misconceptions, ACOG has developed a web-based guide to encourage women to take charge of their health and better understand their risks of developing cancer and the importance of preventing and detecting the disease.

Called Protect and Detect: What Women Should Know About Cancer, the guide outlines the risk factors, warning signs, screening guidelines, and prevention strategies for cancers of the breast, uterus, ovaries, cervix, colon, and lungs.  You can download the guide at http://www.acog.org/from_home/misc/protectAndDetect.pdf

 The guide stresses the fact that cancer does not always cause symptoms.  And even when symptoms are present, women often mistake them for harmless health problems.  This is why, ACOG points out, an annual visit to your health care provider is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health.”