One out of every four deaths in the United States is due to cancer. Over 1500 Americans die as a result of cancer every day, totaling over a half million each year. Rate of death is highest for those with lung and bronchial cancers in both men and women. Over 90,000 men and 73,000 women die from respiratory cancers each year. Breast cancer carries the next highest risk of death for women, at 40,000 each year. Prostate cancer is second for men, at 30,000 deaths per year. Colon cancer has the third highest rate of death for both sexes, at 28,000 deaths for men and 27,000 deaths for women.
The risk of developing some cancers is inherited, and beyond a patient’s ability to control or prevent. For these cancers, regular screenings are essential for detecting tumors at their earliest stages. For many types of cancer, however, the risks can be greatly reduced with preventative behaviors. Not engaging in cigarette smoking or heavy alcohol consumption can prevent the cancers caused by tobacco and alcohol. In the United States, an estimated 175,000 cancer-related deaths caused by tobacco could be prevented each year.
