Cancer is Preventable!

On the first Friday of every month the streets of downtown Phoenix become alive as all of the art galleries keep their doors open late into the night. It started as the idea of one gallery owner but it has morphed into one huge block party with people selling art out of the back of rental vans on the street, bands playing, and hoards of people. Of course, I love it. Also, on every First Friday, the Arizona Science Center does Adults Night Out where admission is free. There is always a lecture and either an IMAX movie or planetarium show. This First Friday we went to see Dr. David Alberts, the director of the Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson. Cancer has surpassed heart disease and is now the leading cause of death in Americans. Dr. Alberts said the best way to prevent cancer is to stop smoking, get at least three hours a week of physical activity (such as brisk walking), eat a low-fat diet with at least 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables, limit your alcohol intake, and get regular health screenings. Dr. Alberts didn't go into great detail about antioxidants or free radicals, he just said get some exercise and eat healthily. Things our mothers used to tell us. He did give one statistic that really surprised me. He said that women who drink a half a glass of wine a day have an 40% increased chance of getting breast cancer. So moderation is the key. Now every night while we walk the dog, we thank her for helping us prevent cancer. More information about cancer prevention can be found at the American Cancer Society website or in Dr. Alberts book, Fundamentals of Cancer Prevention.