Crazy Cancer Facts

I didn't know this, but each year the American Cancer Society publishes a huge report about how many people have cancer in the U.S. The 2008 report estimates that over 1.4 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2008 - that's pretty freakin' scary!

Some things that really struck me as I read this:

• 34% of people of Hispanic and 32% of American Indian/Alaskan descent don't have health coverage.
• African Americans are more likely to develop and die from cancer than any other racial or ethnic group
• Cancer risk is inversely related to socioeconomic status - financially-strapped people with less education have higher cancer rates.
• Women over 40 need to get mammograms, but the number who do is decreasing (70.1% in 2000 to 66.4% in 2005 according to the National Health Survey)

What isn't a surprise at all:

• Smoking can increase your risk of cancer, and chewing tobacco is no better.
• Use sunscreen when you're outside or you have higher risk of skin cancer.
• The overall rate of Americans that have health coverage is lackluster, and don't even get me started on how many people squeak by because they can barely afford the coverage they have.

If you have a moment, or a family history, take a read:

http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/2008CAFFfinalsecured.pdf