1 - Help fight tobacco usage in your community!
Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of death in the United States, with more than 12 million premature deaths attributable to smoking in this country since 1964.
*An estimated 400,000 deaths per year are caused by tobacco use
*At least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of all lung cancer deaths can be attributed to smoking
*About 3,400 nonsmoking adults die each year from lung cancer due to secondhand smoke exposure.
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| Help Fight Tobacco and Save Lives! |
2 - Reduce your risk factors!
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to find early, and there is no sure way of prevention. By the time symptoms are presented, the cancer is usually large and has spread to other organs. But, there are options:
*Doctors are looking at whether endoscopic ultrasounds can be useful to screen those with a high risk of pancreatic cancer. A list of risk factors can be found here.
*Genetic testing may be used to screen people with a strong family history of pancreatic cancer as well. To learn more, see our document "Genetic Testing: What You Need To Know".
3 - Care for yourself while caring for a cancer patient!
As a caregiver, you have a huge influence -- both postive and negative -- on how the cancer patient deals with their illness. Your encouragement can help the patient stick with a demanding treatment plan and take other steps to get well like eating healthy meals or getting enough rest. (Source)
Caring for someone going through cancer treatment can be very stressful and exhausting. It takes emotional, spiritual, and physical strength. There could also be a financial burden to caregiving.
On top of your normal day-to-day tasks, such as meals, cleaning, and driving or arranging transportation, you will become an important part of the cancer treatment team. This busy schedule often does not leave time for caregivers to take care of their own needs. You also may feel the need to turn down job opportunities, work fewer hours, or even retire early in order to meet the demands of being a caregiver. Be sure to plan things you enjoy, think about joining a support group for caregiver, and remember to ask for help. If you feel overwhelmed or know someone who might need some help coping, the Cancer Survivors Network is here to help. (Source)
**The next committee meeting for the 2012 Relay is November 8th at 6:15 PM at St. Basil's Chapel. Hope to see you there!**
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook! You can also reach the website at http://www.relaybridgewater.org/ or email us at relaybridgewater@gmail.com.
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