The Prevent Cancer Foundation Blog » Prevention

Give the Gift of Prevention for Mother’s Day

Ashley — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:46:04 +0000

My Mom is incredibly caring, has endless strength and loves her family more than anything. She was 14 years old when her mother died of kidney cancer. Several decades later, she lost her father and her oldest brother to prostate cancer. Like so many others, cancer runs rampant in my family, so taking steps to prevent the disease is something I try to share with my Mom.

In past years, I have given my mother jewelry, flowers and framed photos, but I believe this year’s gift will be her favorite. This Mother’s Day I am giving my mother a gift that could save lives. I am making a contribution to the Prevent Cancer Foundation in her honor memorializing the loved ones we have lost to cancer. I’m standing with the Prevent Cancer Foundation community to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!

You can also show your mom how much you love and appreciate her by celebrating Mother’s Day with fun and healthy activities you can do together that help reduce cancer risk. Some great ideas she’s sure to love are:

Plant a garden. Gardening is a great way to bond with your mother and put your muscles to good use! Make the most out of your gardening experience by planting fruits and vegetables with cancer fighting antioxidants.
Cook a healthy Mother’s Day meal. Give your mom the day off by preparing these delicious and nutritious recipes for either breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert: Breakfast Tacos, Banana-Berry Smoothies, Caramelized Onion Lasagna, or Blueberry Tart with Walnut Crust.
Train for a 5k race/walk. Get the whole family to sign up for an upcoming walk/run event and spend Mother’s day walking or running a trail together. The Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k Walk/Run on Sunday, September 29 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to saving lives at a family friendly gathering!
Have a heart-to-heart talk about cancer screenings. Let your mom know how much she means to you by talking openly with her about getting life-saving breast, cervical or colorectal cancer screenings. Encourage her to talk to her doctor about the screenings she needs.
Take a fun fitness class together. Find a group fitness program that you and your mom can both enjoy. There are many different activities available for those of all different fitness levels. Try something like water aerobics, rock climbing, yoga, zumba or crossfit to keep you and your mom fit and feeling good.
Learn about your mom’s family health history. Mother’s Day is a great time to have a simple conversation about your family’s medical background of cancer and other diseases. To learn how this important step can could save or prolong your life or the lives of your family members, watch our recent webcast: Family Medical History: Why and What You Should Know.

Your mom has taken care of you in so this Mother’s Day make sure she is taking care of herself, by staying active, eating healthy and getting regular cancer screenings. Join me in celebrating mothers for all that they do by making a donation in honor or in memory of your loved one; a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, wife, colleague or friend.

Music that Motivates You to Move

Ashley — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:00:15 +0000

Whether you are going for a run, hitting the gym or gearing up for a bike ride, many of us won’t leave home without our workout playlist to keep us energized. So why is music so vital in helping us keep up our endurance? Since the early 1900s scientists have studied the way music changes people’s performance in a variety of physical activities and have discovered many interesting connections between the psychology of music and movement. In order to satisfy your need to groove when you move, try workouts that include high intensity music such as Zumba or Dance Trance.

Read the full Huffington Post article

Make Cancer Prevention Romantic for You and Your Valentine

Ashley — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:00:30 +0000

It’s February and that means Valentine’s Day temptations are everywhere you look – candied hearts, boxed chocolates, heart-shaped goodies and a dinner date for two with your sweetheart. This time of the year also marks another important observance, National Cancer Prevention Month, which is a great time to start making healthy changes that reduce cancer risk for you, your family and friends. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as eating healthy and staying active can be challenging during any holiday. Here are six tips that will help you and that special someone in your life stick to healthy habits and prevent cancer for an enjoyable and romantic Valentine’s Day:

Cook a romantic dinner for two. Planning a dinner date at home can be a very romantic gesture and it can save both cash and calories. Choose healthy, low-fat recipes with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean meat. Don’t forget the soft music and candle light!
If you do go out for dinner remember sharing is caring. Splitting an entrée or dessert helps you avoid overindulging on those typical large portion restaurant meals. You still get to enjoy a romantic dinner out, but it costs you only half the calories (and half the price tag) of your usual meal.
Consider alternative gifts to chocolate. Rather than tempting your beloved with chocolates, consider sending flowers or a fruit basket that has natural sugar as well as healthy nutrients.
Indulge your sweet tooth a little, but don’t overdo it. If your sweetheart gives you a box of chocolates stick it in the fridge or freezer and enjoy in moderation over several weeks. Dark chocolate is packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants, making it a more nutritious option than milk chocolate.
Plan a date around fitness. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to revolve around calorie-laden food or periods of inactivity. You can nurture your relationship through many healthy and enjoyable activities. Some fitness date ideas for couples include skiing, hiking, taking dance lessons together, ice skating, rock climbing or kayaking. These activities promote togetherness and can lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Show you care by kicking the smoking habit. One of the best things you can do for your health is to give up smoking or help a loved one quit. Smoking is the cause of more than 80 percent of all lung cancer cases and the cause of 30 percent of all cancer deaths.

Take the opportunity to make this holiday of love special by getting active, eating healthy and quitting tobacco to help you and your Valentine develop lifetime habits that help Stop Cancer Before it Starts!

HPV Facts for Men

Ashley — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:00:48 +0000

Human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus associated with cervical cancer, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. Though it affects both men and women much of the conversation about HPV relates to women’s health. HPV is also a common risk factor for several other types of cancer that can also affect men, including anal, penile and oropharyngeal cancer. Here are some of the latest facts on HPV and men that we should all know:

The HPV vaccine, which protects against certain strains of HPV that can help prevent HPV-related cancers, is available to and recommended for boys ages 13 thru 21.
Some men are more at risk: gay and bisexual men are more likely to develop HPV-associated anal cancer than men who have sex with women.
There is no common screening test to detect HPV in men.
Half of men over the age of 15 carry the virus.
HPV-associated cancers, particularly oral and oropharyngeal, are on the rise.

Read the Full Huffington Post Article

Is Social Networking the New Handy Weight Loss Tool?

Ashley — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 03:00:26 +0000

In case you needed another reason to use social media, researchers at the University of South Carolina have discovered that using a Twitter support group may help individuals achieve those challenging weight loss goals. The study’s findings showed that those who participated in a weight loss program overall lost more weight when they used the site to receive and share information and encouragement. The research team found that every 10 tweets corresponded with about 0.5 percent weight loss. The Twitter community provides an alternative to the traditional face-to-face weight-loss support group that may prove more cost-effective and less time-consuming. Researchers plan to examine how other social media sites function as health support systems and how to best tailor messages to give people the type of weight loss intervention they need.

Read the Full Wired Article

#Preventcancer4 for the Holidays!

Ashley — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:58:29 +0000

The holidays are a favorite time of the year for everyone—spending time with family, friends and loved ones. However, while you’re celebrating, don’t forget about sticking to healthy habits and staying active to help #preventcancer4 everyone this season!

Eating During the Holidays:

1.) Overindulgence at holiday parties can be a constant struggle. If you’re in charge of planning the meal, find ways to include lighter substitutes for fattening or unhealthy ingredients. For example, swap plain greek yogurt for sour cream, choose low fat hot chocolate instead of eggnog and have fresh fruit and dark chocolate instead of sugar cookies or other calorie-laden desserts.

2.) Before attending a holiday party, prepare yourself by eating a light and lean snack before you leave home—this will make you less tempted to overeat.

3.) Bring a nutritious holiday dish to the holiday gathering! It will provide a light alternative to the usual heavy holiday spread. Try Butternut Squash Pilaf, Avocado-Corn Salsa, Glazed Chocolate-Pumpkin Bundt Cake or Healthy Green Bean Casserole.

4.) Most Americans gain an average of one pound over the holidays and that weight isn’t usually lost during the rest of the year. Over the years this adds up, so put a stop to it now to start the new year off on a healthier note! Read Dr. Ann’s 10 tips on avoiding holiday weight gain.

Staying Active During the Holidays:

1.) If you choose to continue running outside, make sure that you follow these tips for winterizing your run.

2.) If you don’t want to brave the cold weather then try an alternative indoor workout that you’ve never heard of! Step off that treadmill and try something new like Zumba, Rock Climbing, Crossfit, Dance Trance or Aerial Silks.

3.) Find ways to incorporate activity into your holiday preparations. Visit a Christmas tree farm and use those muscles to haul and load your tree into your car, park far away from the store to squeeze in a few extra steps while you’re shopping for gifts, walk around your neighborhood with a group to sing carols or go ice skating at an outdoor rink for exercise and extra holiday cheer.

4.) Whatever you do this holiday season, just make sure to keep moving! The health risks of inactivity have been found to be more hazardous than smoking and obesity. Plan family activities and games outside, have a snowball fight or take a walking tour of holiday lights in your neighborhood.

It’s no surprise that many New Year’s resolutions stem from holiday overindulgence, stress and inactivity. Make this year different and choose to #preventCancer4 yourself, your loved ones and your future!

Holiday Health: #PreventCancer4 the Holidays Photo Contest

Show us your best healthy holiday traditions! Enter the Prevent Cancer Foundation #Preventcancer4 the Holidays photo contest. Email pcf@preventcancer.org with your pictures throughout the holiday season. We’ll post all the pictures we receive on Facebook and Pinterest. Our top choices will be highlighted in a blog post on January 8!

Medical Communities Focus on Cancer Treatment, Not Prevention

Ashley — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:32:02 +0000

Today cancer prevention and early detection is at the forefront of reducing cancer diagnoses and deaths. The curriculum of American medical schools, however, continues to emphasize the old paradigm of treatment, rather than prevention when educating our future physicians. A recent survey revealed that medical students were inadequately trained in cancer prevention knowledge, including skin cancer, a very curable disease if caught early. These knowledge gaps may stem from medical students’ lack of awareness in careers focused on prevention and lack of incentives. A major factor that deters medical students from pursuing a cancer prevention and control curriculum is a lack of funding available for those students in preventive medicine. For practicing physicians, prevention interventions in the clinical setting offer little financial incentives. To reduce the 1.6 million cancer diagnoses that will occur in 2012 alone, experts advocate for a revision of medical school curriculum that promotes cancer prevention as a primary education emphasis and a career specialty.

Read the Full Huffington Post Article

Smokers, Drinkers may Develop Pancreatic Cancer Earlier in Life

Ashley — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 19:31:03 +0000

A recent study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology discovered that heavy smokers and heavy drinkers are at greater risk for developing pancreatic cancer. Looking at pancreatic cancer patients and high-risk individuals, researchers found heavy drinkers and heavy smokers were diagnosed 10 to 12 years earlier than the average age of detection, 72 years old. The study also discovered that after 10 years of giving up these habits, former smokers and drinkers did not show an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer at an earlier age.

Read the Full UPI Article

Tastefully Childish: Never Too Young To Learn How To Prevent Cancer

Jim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:33:40 +0000

Jennifer and her family

Blogger Jennifer Kolodziej, author of the successful “Mommy blog,” Tastefully Childish, has written an insightful post about her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis and how it led her to teach her children about the value of a healthy diet. Jennifer, sister of Prevent Cancer Foundation Accountant Elliot Turner, also wanted to broaden her children’s knowledge about other cultures so she used the Foundation community grant-funded Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Traditional Food Guide and Activity Book that promotes healthy lifestyle choices and nutritional habits among Alaskan children (8-10) at risk for obesity, cancer and other diseases.

Uncle Elliot works with his nieces on the Alaska Native Traditional Food Guide and Activity Book

The Prevent Cancer Foundation encourages you to visit Tastefully Childish and to read the post in its entirety. What are your favorites tips for parents that want to teach their children about healthy eating?

Teens Banned from New York Tanning Beds

PCF Admin — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:44:35 +0000

New York’s Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed a law on July 16 prohibiting the use of indoor tanning beds by children ages 16 and younger. The law also requires 17 year olds to obtain parental consent before using indoor tanning beds.

Indoor tanning beds increase the risk of developing skin cancer and expose skin to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is far more intense than UV radiation from the sun. The melanoma rates for young women are rapidly increasing, and they are the primary users of indoor tanning beds.

More than 2 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year however, 30 million people in the U.S. continue to tan indoors. The New York law seeks to protect young people from the heightened risk of skin cancer and prevents early exposure to dangerous UV radiation.

Read the full Medical News Today Article