While it's easy to feel we have little control over getting cancer, according to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts and Figures 2005 (available for download at www.cancer.org), scientists conservatively estimate that of the 570,240 cancer deaths expected in 2005, more than half could be prevented. Of the deaths expected, 168,140 will be caused by tobacco use and 190,090 will be caused by lifestyle factors such as obesity, inactivity and poor nutrition. An additional number could be avoided if people underwent the suggested screenings to catch cancer at its earliest and most curable stage. Because these factors often overlap, it's impossible to arrive at an exact number of preventable cancer deaths. It is clear, however, that each of us has more control over whether we get cancer than we might think. The top five risk factors that can be controlled include:

• Tobacco: The evidence is overwhelming and clear - the easiest way to avoid cancer is by not smoking or using tobacco products. Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S and is the reason more than 440,000 people die prematurely each year, more than 168,000 from cancer and the rest from heart disease, stroke, emphysema and other diseases. The good news is that as soon as you stop, the damage begins to reverse itself and in ten years the risk of lung cancer returns to almost the same level as that of someone who never smoked. For more information, see our Health Information section on quitting tobacco use.


• Sun Exposure: Once thought to be a sign of health, we now know that a tan is actually evidence of sun-damaged skin, which may eventually lead to skin cancer. Research has proven that repeated exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays causes skin cancer and should be guarded against by wearing hats, protective clothing and sunscreen. More information is available in our Health Information section on protecting your skin from the sun and protecting your skin from ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer.


• Nutrition and Weight: Eating a balanced diet heavy on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes may protect you against cancer in two ways: 1. Researchers have found possible links between high fat diets and being overweight with increased risk of certain cancers, and 2. Research has also discovered that certain foods and food ingredients may serve to protect you against cancer. With about 60 percent of the U.S. population overweight or obese in 2003, the impact of weight on health is continuing to grow. Eating the right foods and maintaining healthy body weight also helps prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other illnesses.


• Physical Activity: Exercise helps every part of your body work better, right down to your cells. Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly may be less likely to develop certain cancers and that being overweight or obese puts people at greater risk. Exercising moderately to vigorously 30-45 minutes a day, five days a week can make the difference.


• Cancer Screening: There are a number of tests now available that have proven effective in detecting cancer at its earliest stages, including screening for breast, cervical, prostate and colon cancers The American Cancer Society has established recommended ACS Cancer Detection Guidelines for timing of screenings with more information available on their Web site at www.cancer.org. For general guidelines of health screenings, Sutter Health has prepared Preventive Care Guidelines with recommendations and timing by age groups.