Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Fatalism, Ignorance Keep Many From Needed Cancer Checks
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MONDAY, Jan. 30 (HealthDay News) -- A sense of futility in preventing or fighting cancer may be holding many Americans back from getting the early detection tests they need, a new American Cancer Society survey finds. The national survey found that 47 percent of adult Americans think they have little or no ability to reduce their cancer risk. Another 43 percent said they haven''t been screened for cancer because they don''t know what types of cancer screening they should have. Doctors need to encourage screening, too: The survey found that 31 percent of Americans age 55 and older, and 42 percent of those ages 45 to 54, said their physicians had failed to recommend they get cancer screenings. "We need much more effective physician-patient communication to educate the public on screening and early detection and when to have the tests," Dr. Carolyn Runowicz, president of the American Cancer Society, said in a prepared statement. Nearly half of all new cancer cases in the United States include types that can be prevented by following the society''s early detection guidelines. In an effort to increase awareness about early cancer detection tests and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, the American Cancer Society offers the Great American Health Check, a confidential, interactive online health-assessment tool that provides people with a personalized health action plan. "The Great American Health Check is a key part of a nationwide Society campaign to change Americans'' behavior to prevent or detect cancer early in an effort to improve survival," Runowicz said. More information Here''s where you can find the Great American Health Check.
Last Updated: Jan. 30, 2006 |