Cancer can happen to anyone

For every two males you see, one has the chance of developing cancer in his lifetime. For every three women you see, one has the chance of developing cancer in her lifetime. With advances in research and technology, nearly 14 million people in the United States have had cancer and survived.

What is cancer? Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If left uncontrolled, it can result in death. Unfortunately, cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly one in every four deaths according to the American Cancer Society.

Cancer can be caused by both external factors (such as tobacco, chemicals, radiation) and internal factors (such as inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions). Often ten or more years pass between exposure to external factors and detectable cancer.

Thankfully with technological advances, screening offers early detection of some cancers. Screening has helped reduce the mortality for cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix and lung. Screening for colorectal and cervical cancers can actually prevent cancer by allowing the removal of pre-cancerous lesions. 

With improvements in diagnosing certain cancers and improvements in treatments, the five-year survival rate for all diagnosed cancers between 2003 and 2009 is 68 percent, up from 49 percent in 1975-1977. 

In 2014, an estimated 1.67 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States, with 7,990 of those cases being in Idaho. 

For men, the top three types of cancer diagnosed in 2014 will be prostate cancer (27 percent), lung and bronchus cancers (14 percent) and colon and rectum cancers (eight percent). 

For women, the top three types of cancer diagnosed in 2014 will be breast cancer (29 percent), lung and bronchus cancers (13 percent) and colon and rectum cancers (eight percent). 

Even with today’s research and technology, 585,720 Americans won’t survive their battle with cancer. That is almost 1,600 people per day losing their battle. 

The fight to make cancer obsolete is strong. Millions of people every year gather together for Relay for Life events to help support the American Cancer Society in finishing the fight against cancer. 

This year, Bonners Ferry is hosting its first Relay for Life event on Aug. 22 at the Bonners Ferry High School track. 

Teams, volunteers and business sponsors are needed to help make cancer obsolete. Join Relay for Life organizers tonight at 6 p.m. at Riverside Auto Center as they begin planning this year’s event.

For more information on Relay for Life, visit www.relayforlife.org/bonnersferryid or visit the local Facebook page under Bonners Ferry Relay for Life.