April has been designated as National Cancer Control month. When did that happen? Well, on March 28, 1938 a joint resolution was passed by the U.S. Congress that each year the president of the United States will sign a Presidential Proclamation that will designate April as Cancer Control Month.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first proclamation in 1940 and for the last 75 years there has been a new Presidential Proclamation every year!

Here we are … 75 years later … and this dreaded health issue now affects virtually every American family!  According to the CDC ,   cancer is #1 non-trauma cause of death for all of us between the ages of 1 and 64! After age 65, heart disease moves ahead putting cancer into the #2 spot. The risks of being diagnosed with cancer and of dying from cancer continues on at an alarming rate.

When it comes to cancer, the best situation would be to never develop it!  We all can agree of that point. Prevention is so much nicer than intervention!

We cannot change our genetic component which accounts for 5 – 10% of cancers.  So, 90% of the time, any given cancer has developed because of lifestyle choices or exposure to cancer causing agents.  We can’t control everything but we can try to be aware and use good judgment!  Our choices can increase or decrease our risks.  A few examples  …
●  What foods do we eat?
●  Are we exposed to cigarette smoke and other chemcials in the air that we breath?
●  How much sun exposure do we have?
●  How do we manage our weight?
●  Do  we exercise and keep physically fit?
●  How much alcohol do we drink?

All of these, and many other lifestyle choices can make our odds of hearing the words ‘You have cancer” go up or down.  We are active participants in the storyline of our lives and our children’s lives.

Here is a quote from President Obama’s 2014 Proclamation  …. “I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent and control cancer.”

Here at Wild Oats we are committed to providing healthy and economical food options, none of which contain any of the “125 no-no” ingredients.  This can be one very good part of your healthy choices plan!

Thanks to the scientific and medical community, survival rates after a cancer diagnosis are improving!  We can certainly be glad for all the advances that are being made there.

Let’s do our part on the prevention side.  What will you choose to do in this month of April?  Our blog posts are full of health promoting ideas.  Let’s pick a few new things to include in our lifestyle choices.  We have everything to gain!  And cancer to stamp out!