Plan to Promote Cancer Prevention

October 17, 2011

As you create your 2012 wellness program calendar, make cancer prevention a top priority. A World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research study concludes that healthier living could prevent more than a third of the most common cancers in rich countries and 25% in poorer nations.

Specifically, scientists found that more exercise and weight control could prevent 43% of colon cancer and 42% of breast cancer cases in the UK, 45% of colon cancer and 38% of breast cancer cases in the US.

Good News

Good news and cancer typically don’t appear in the same sentence. No disease strikes more fear, which makes successful prevention programs a challenge for health promoters. But this good news, combined with a growing knowledge of various cancer causes, is removing the stigma. It’s not only okay to talk about, but people are literally wearing cancer awareness on their sleeves (and lapel pins, bumper stickers, etc.).

This momentum presents a great opportunity. Some suggestions:

• Nutrition. Consider a healthy eating/cancer prevention theme for National Nutrition Month® (March) or late summer/early fall when the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables lends itself to cooking/canning demonstrations, with incentive programs geared toward the benefits of produce.
• Physical activity. Emphasize the cancer prevention aspects in your next fitness/weight loss program.
• Screenings. Reinforce the importance of being tested, particularly during national health observances:
  • – January — Cervical Health Awareness Month
  • – March — National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
  • – April — Cancer Control Month
  • – May — Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
  • – September — National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
  • – October — National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • – November — Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Arrange for onsite screenings along with education sessions. Invite survivors to submit stories about their experiences for an intranet news feature. Highlight related community activities (check with your local American Cancer Society office). Consider incentives or a chance for prizes to everyone who gets the screening or completes an awareness activity.