Preventing cancer
9/9/2004 Louisvill, KY By Linda Stahl The Courier-Journal Visiting expert says most cases can be avoided with diet and lifestyle changes Dr. Bernard Levin, one of the nation's foremost authorities on cancer prevention, will give a free public speech at the Hyatt Regency in Louisville tonight as part of a Norton Hospitals Foundation lecture series. Levin won the American Cancer Society's 2004 award for a career devoted to the early detection and prevention of cancer. At the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Levin has developed a broad research program that combines the study of behavior, genetics, chemotherapy and population groups to learn how to prevent cancer. He maintains that two-thirds of all cancers can be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes. In advance of his visit, we spoke with him in a telephone interview from his office in Houston. Here are excerpts from the conversation: What are the top six ways a person can reduce his risk and his family's risk of getting cancer? The first is related to tobacco. Stop or never start tobacco. Know your family history, because that could be very important in determining your own risk. The next is maintain a healthy weight. Keep physically active. The next is avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun. Age- and gender-appropriate screening. Q: What does the American public need to learn to help the United States reach its potential for cancer prevention? What seems to be our greatest area of ignorance? A: Health literacy. I mean by [...]