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   With the recent announcement of Elizabeth Edwards' cancer and the recurrence of Tony Snow's cancer, plus the diagnosis of cancer in a four-year old from my hometown, I wonder about a lot of things. 

   First, I wonder when we will ever find a cure for all types of cancer and end the suffering of millions. I believe that each of us personally knows someone who has been affected by this horrible invasion of the body. Whether or not we have actually battled cancer in our bodies, we know someone or know of someone who has battled it. In my lifetime, I have known more people with cancer than I have fingers and toes to count them all. Cancer directly or indirectly affects all of us.

   Next, I wonder about my odds of ever being diagnosed with some form of cancer. What would I do? How would I beat it? The most important question I have is that of prevention. How can I prevent cancer?

   Today I examined my lifestyle and found that disregarding genetics at the moment, I am probably at risk of eventually having cancer. I do not smoke, but I am exposed to cigarette smoke on a regular basis. I also eat a lot of fast food. I do not sleep much, and I stress about school quite often. All these are contributing factors in weakening my immune system, causing me to be at risk for all types of sicknesses, not just cancer. 

   In light of President Bush designating April 2007 as National Cancer Control Month and the many people I know and knew affected by cancer, I decided to take steps to decrease my chances of getting cancer by living a more healthy lifestyle.

   While giving up fast food may be the most daunting of tasks, several places offer more healthy choices for people too busy to cook lunch or lug around a lunch box, third-grade style. McDonald's offers salads, as does Wendy's, Sonic, Burger King and be sure not to forget the healthier fare at Subway.  Of course, making a soup from salad by squeezing massive amounts of dressing on top does not constitute eating healthy. Dressing is the worst thing to ever happen to a salad, even though I admit that I am a ranch addict.

   I have also joined Curve's in attempt to become more active and keep my weight in check. A healthy weight is also key in cancer prevention. I cannot deny the fact that I just feel better because I am exercising. Joining Curve's is not the be-all and end-all of exercise, though. Any kind of exercise is sufficient in being healthy.

   Though none of us can control our second-hand exposure to cigarette smoke, as all of us encounter incidental smoke from time to time, actually quitting smoking lowers the risk of cancer daily.  Our lungs repair themselves on a daily basis, and the American Lung Association supports the claim that after one year the risk of cancer decreases by half.

   Vaccines are also available to prevent certain types of cancer, most notably cervical cancer.

   We live in such a critical time now; especially with more frequent diagnoses of cancer and other diseases. We cannot afford to take health lightly. We must become proactive in the fight against cancer and take measures to prevent the occurrence of it in our own lives. Go to www.preventcancer.org, www.yourdiseaserisk.harvard.edu and www.lungusa.org to learn more about cancer prevention and risk factors. 

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