Read more: Local, Health, Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Excercise, Diet, Oncology, Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Change your life, save your life is the message from a sweeping new cancer study.
It shows that about 1/3 of cancer cases in the U.S. could be prevented by a healthier lifestyle.
By exercising regularly, eating healthy and maintaining a normal weight.
Researchers say 45 percent of colon cancers and 38 percent of breast cancers could be prevented.
Dr. Alison Estabrook says although the numbers are only estimated, they prove that simple preventative choices, save lives.
"Fast foods would be good to cut out of your diet. Eat more fruits, vegetable and salads," Dr. Estabrook said.
But the international study takes it one step further. It says that to change personal health habits, its going to take all aspects of society from the individual, to the food industry, and the government.
"I think this is going to be a whole social problem, just like smoking was in the past," Dr. Estabrook said.
The study’s recommendations include, government mandated walking and biking paths. Affordable healthy food, plus an end to advertising sugary drinks to kids.
Rochelle Shoretz is a two time breast cancer patient.
"I would certainly hope that my sister, or my friends take a message from my own experience and start eating right and exercising," Shoretz said.
She hopes the study will help others avoid what she’s gone through.
"We should all be eating healthier," she said. "And the fact that we may have an added benefit of improving the healthcare of the entire world is just sort of icing on top of the cake."
Fighting cancer, simply by putting one foot in front of the other, towards healthier choices.
For more information about this study, you can log onto The American Institute for Cancer Research's website: www.aicr.org/site/PageServer.
You can find help dealing with breast cancer by logging onto www.sharsheret.org
