Almost every day, a new product debuts on the market touting its ability to ward off cancer—Pennsylvania’s second highest cause of death.
According to
Cancer Facts and Figures 2009:
- 28,756 Pennsylvania residents died as a result of cancer in 2007.
- About 74,025 Pennsylvanians were projected to be diagnosed with invasive cancer in 2009.
- On average, an estimated 101 male and 101 female residents in Pennsylvania were expected to be diagnosed with invasive cancer each day during 2009.
- Pennsylvania’s cancer mortality rates were consistently higher than comparable U.S. mortality rates.
Pittsburgh area oncologist Ed Balaban, DO, past president of the Pennsylvania Society of Oncology & Hematology (PSOH) and member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, cautions patients about the unproven promises of supplements, or any quick fix.
“First of all, not enough research has been done to support most of these claims. Some supplements can interfere with other medications; some can be toxic if the dose is too high. So please talk with your doctor before taking anything.”
However, Dr. Balaban emphasizes that our daily diet choices can definitely help reduce the risk of cancer. “What you eat and don’t eat clearly matters. A healthy diet, healthy weight and an active lifestyle make a tremendous difference when it comes to better health.”
“We really need to adopt better habits if we want a fair fight against cancer.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s
2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey noted that 36 percent of Pennsylvania adults (ages 20 and older) surveyed were considered to be overweight, and 29 percent were obese. The annual survey collects data on various health risk behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, seat belt usage, and health status.
“As a state, we could certainly benefit from making better diet choices. The bottom line is that what we learned as kids still applies—eat smart and go play. It’s just common sense. The healthier your habits, the healthier your body.”