Change your lifestyle and save your life, doctor says

Source: Moultrie (GA) Observer
Date: 2010-03-05
Author:  Alan Mauldin

MOULTRIE -- Kicking the tobacco habit and shedding some pounds
produce benefits beyond cutting the risks of a heart attack or
stroke. They also could dramatically reduce the risk of dying of
cancer.

Of the more than 562,340 cancer deaths in the United States last
year, one-third are the results of tobacco use and an equal
amount are attributable to being overweight, Dr. Phillip Roberts,
director of the Phoebe Cancer Center told Moultrie Rotary Club
members Tuesday.

The high percentage of Southwest Georgians who are obese or
overweight and/or use tobacco also are reflected in the cancer
deaths. The U.S. average in 2009 was 186.9 deaths per 100,000
population, compared to 193.7 in Colquitt County and 201.9
percent in Dougherty County. Georgia\'s rate for 2009 was 193
deaths per 100,000 population.

"The extent to which our cancer rates are higher has more to do
with our lifestyles than your health care systems," Roberts
said.
Last year in Georgia there were 14,970 cancer deaths. Of those
4,660 were from lung cancer