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Research also shows that individuals
from medically underserved populations are more
likely to be diagnosed with late- stage diseases
that might have been treated more effectively or
cured if diagnosed earlier. Financial, physical, and
cultural beliefs are also barriers that prevent
individuals or groups from obtaining effective
health care.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI)
defines "cancer health disparities" as adverse
differences in cancer incidence (new cases), cancer
prevalence (all existing cases), cancer death
(mortality), cancer survivorship, and burden of
cancer or related health conditions that exist among
specific population groups in the United States.
These population groups may be characterized by age,
disability, education, ethnicity, gender, geographic
location, income, or race. People who are poor, lack
health insurance, and are medically underserved
(have limited or no access to effective health
care)—regardless of ethnic and racial
background—often bear a greater burden of disease
than the general population.
A close look at cancer incidence and
death statistics reveals that certain groups in this
country suffer disproportionately from cancer and
its associated effects, including premature death.
For example, African Americans/Blacks, Asian
Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, American Indians,
Alaska Natives, and underserved Whites are more
likely than the general population to have higher
incidence and death statistics for certain types of
cancer.
Complex and interrelated factors
contribute to the observed disparities in cancer
incidence and death among racial, ethnic, and
underserved groups. The most obvious factors are
associated with a lack of health care coverage and
low socioeconomic status (SES).
SES is most often based on a person's
income, education level, occupation, and other
factors, such as social status in the community and
where he or she lives. Studies have found that SES,
more than race or ethnicity, predicts the likelihood
of an individual's or a group's access to education,
certain occupations, health insurance, and living
conditions—including conditions where exposure to
environmental toxins is most common—all of which are
associated with the risk of developing and surviving
cancer. SES, in particular, appears to play a major
role in influencing the prevalence of behavioral
risk factors for cancer (for example, tobacco
smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and
excessive, alcohol intake, and health status), as
well as in following cancer screening
recommendations.
Deskan Restoring Hope Ministries
would like you to know the following.
Take charge by making small changes
in your daily life, from eating a healthy diet to
scheduling regular cancer screenings.
Eat
a healthy diet:
Although making healthy selections at
the grocery store and at mealtime can't guarantee
cancer prevention, it may help reduce your risk.
Consider these guidelines.
Take charge by making small changes in your daily
life, from eating a healthy diet to scheduling
regular cancer screenings:
·
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Base your diet on fruits, vegetables and other foods
from plant sources — such as whole grains and beans.
Limit fat.
Eat lighter and leaner by choosing fewer high-fat
foods, particularly those from animal sources.
High-fat diets tend to be higher in calories and may
increase the risk of overweight or obesity — which
can, in turn, increase cancer risk.
If you choose to drink alcohol, do so
only in moderation.
The risk of various types of cancer — including
cancer of the breast, colon, lung, kidney and liver
— increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and
the length of time you've been drinking regularly
Don't use tobacco
Using any type of tobacco puts you on
a collision course with cancer. Smoking has been
linked to various types of cancer — including cancer
of the lung, bladder, cervix and kidney — and
chewing tobacco has been linked to cancer of the
oral cavity and pancreas. Even if you don't use
tobacco, exposure to secondhand smoke may increase
your risk of lung cancer.
Avoiding tobacco — or deciding to
stop using it — is one of the most important health
decisions you can make. It's also an important part
of cancer prevention. If you need help quitting
tobacco, ask your doctor about stop-smoking products
and other strategies for quitting.
VISIT
CuringProstatecancer.com :
www.SistersNetworkInc.org
www.CancerCenter.com:
www.breastcancer.org...
www.Depend.com
www.cancer.org
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