CyberKnife Center offers tips for National Cancer Control Month
April is Cancer Control Month, an opportunity CyberKnife Center of Chicago is using to encourage healthy lifestyles, remind people to visit their primary care physician regularly and stress the importance of screenings and early detection of cancer.
And cancer control is an issue worth addressing, especially in Illinois where the cancer rate is higher than the nationwide average with about 482 of every 100,000 residents affected, compared to 465 of every 100,000 residents nationwide.
The latest facts and figures from the American Cancer Society estimate that more than 1.4 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2010, and of those diagnoses, about 500,000 resulted in death. Additional research findings indicate as many as two-thirds of those 500,000 cancer-related deaths could be avoided — one-third by cutting out tobacco use and another third with proper diet and exercise.
Cancer prevention tips from the American Cancer Society include:
• Quitting cigarette smoking
• Avoiding intense sunlight for extended periods of time
• Eating a healthy diet, which includes eating a minimum of five servings of vegetables and fruits each day, choosing whole grains and limiting intake of processed and red meats
• Staying at a healthy weight throughout life or reaching and staying at a healthy weight if currently obese
• Engaging in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity five or more days per week
• Indulging in no more than two alcoholic drinks per day for men and one alcoholic drink per day for women
“Take the month of April to renew your commitment to health,” recommends Dr. Joy Coleman, medical director of CyberKnife Center of Chicago. “Work to establish healthy eating habits for you and your family and commit to getting 30 minutes of exercise five times each week. Doing so will go a long way toward cancer prevention and improving your overall quality of life.”
In addition to establishing healthy habits, regular check-ups and cancer screenings can aid in the early detection of cancer.
“Cancer Control Month is also a good time to talk with someone who may have received a recent cancer diagnosis about their treatment options,” Coleman said. “While CyberKnife may not be appropriate for all cancer patients, the nonsurgical form of treatment offers several benefits for patients who are appropriate candidates.”
CyberKnife treats cancerous and benign tumors in the brain, spine, lung, liver, pancreas, prostate and kidney through a process called stereotactic radiosurgery, a noninvasive method of treating tumors with high-dose radiation precisely aimed from different angles. The result is greatly increased accuracy that spares healthy tissue. Treatment is complete in one to five treatment sessions, and patients are allowed to go home immediately after each procedure to resume normal activities.
Contact CyberKnife Center of Chicago at (630) 758-5588 or at www.chicagock.com to determine if you or a loved one may be a CyberKnife candidate. Most insurance plans and Medicare are accepted.
In partnership with Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and Nuclear Oncology Medical Care, CyberKnife Center of Chicago is a US Radiosurgery facility. CyberKnife Center of Chicago is located at 200 Berteau Ave. in Elmhurst, Ill and is a service of the hospital.