Georgia DHR public health initiatives aim to curb cancer rates

Released on = January 24, 2005, 11:34 am

Press Release Author = Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR)

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = Jan. 24, 2005 -- Georgians should quit using tobacco, undergo routine health screenings, get physically active and eat healthier to reduce their risks of dying from cancer, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), said today in response to a report released January 19, by the American Cancer
Society (ACS). The annual statistical report cites cancer as the leading killer of Americans under the age of 85, surpassing heart disease for the first time.

Press Release Body = ATLANTA (GA) – Georgians should quit using tobacco, undergo routine health screenings, get physically active and eat healthier to reduce their risks of dying from cancer, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), said today in response to a report released January 19, by the American Cancer Society (ACS). The annual statistical report cites cancer as the leading killer of Americans under the age of 85, surpassing heart disease for the first time.

“More than 36,000 Georgians are expected to be diagnosed with some form of cancer this year, and nearly 16,000 will die from cancer,” said Kimberly Redding, M.D., M.P.H., medical director for the DHR, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Branch. “Now, more than ever, Georgians must take charge of their health.
DHR wants to send the message that early detection and making lifestyle changes, such as kicking the tobacco habit and getting screened, can significantly curb cancer incidence rates and save lives,” Redding advised.

The ACS report attributed smoking to one-third of all cancer deaths, and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths. About 22 percent of U.S. adults ages 18 and older -- or 46 million people -- smoke cigarettes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 23 percent of Georgia adults smoke. DHR created the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line as a resource for tobacco users. The Quit Line (1-877-270-STOP or 1-877-2NO-FUME for Spanish speakers) offers free counseling, screening and support to Georgians ages 13 and older who want to quit the tobacco
habit. The Quit Line operates daily from 8:00 a.m. until midnight, and recently began offering services to youth. Trained counselors, known as “youth coaches,” provide age-appropriate tobacco cessation counseling and materials to Georgia teens. To date, more than 38,000 people have sought the support of the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line.

“More than 160,000 U.S. cancer deaths this year are expected to be caused by tobacco use,” Redding said. “Smoking remains the most preventable cause of death in the United States and in Georgia. The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line can help tobacco users take the initial step to quitting, and ultimately, remaining tobacco free.”

Cancers that can be prevented or detected earlier by screening account for about half of all new cancer cases, according to the ACS statistical report. Regular screening examinations by a health care professional can prevent cervical and colorectal cancers through early detection and removal of precancerous lesions. Detecting cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, oral cavity and skin at earlier stages makes treatment more likely to be successful. The death rate from colorectal cancer, for instance, has declined significantly over the past 15 years as a result of increased screening and early detection.

“If all cancers were diagnosed at an early stage through regular cancer screenings, the five-year survival rate would increase to about 95 percent,” Dr. Redding said, citing figures from the ACS report. “These statistics are encouraging evidence that
taking preventive measures, such as screenings and routine physicals, may add years to your life.”

To learn more about Georgia’s cancer prevention initiatives, call 1-800-4CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or visit www.georgiacancer.org.

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Web Site = http://www.georgiacancer.org

Contact Details = For information, contact:
Demetrius Parker, (404) 656-4937
dmparker1@dhr.state.ga.us