Cancer Myths: Get the Facts

Millions of people still believe that cancer is just bad luck.
The truth?

About 400,000 cases of cancer in the US could be prevented every year if we all ate healthier diets, moved more and stayed lean.

Thousands of studies compiled and analyzed in our expert reports and Continuous Update Project (CUP) show that:

• Diets high in vegetables, fruits and other plant foods help protect you against nine different kinds of cancer, including those of the colon, stomach and pancreas.
• Being physically active reduces your risk of endometrial cancer, breast cancer (post-menopausal) and colorectal cancer.
• Carrying excess body fat increases your risk for seven cancers, including those of the colorectum, breast (post-menopausal), endometrium and kidney. This is why, besides not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself against cancer.
• Drinking alcohol increases your risk for five types of cancer, including those of the breast, esophagus and liver.

For more information to help you sort cancer myths from cancer facts, read AICR’s brochure: Cancer: Facts vs. Fears.

Also check out these UICC Fact Sheets.