The five leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and unintentional injuries. Together they accounted for 63 percent of all U.S. deaths in 2010, with rates for each cause varying greatly from state to state. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, analyzed premature deaths (before age 80) from each cause for each state from 2008 to 2010. The authors then calculated the number of deaths from each cause that would have been prevented if all states had same death rate as the states with the lowest rates. Center for Disease Control and Prevention  

The C word.  Hearing that you or someone close to you has cancer is overwhelming and very frightening. Most of us know someone who has cancer or has died due to this disease, which ranks as the second highest cause of premature death.  Learn the lifestyle risks for cancer and QUIT SMOKING!

Cancer

They found 21 percent of premature deaths from cancer are preventable and could prolong about 84,500 lives! Modifiable risk factors include:

• tobacco use
• poor diet
• lack of physical activity
• overweight
• sun exposure
• certain hormones
• alcohol
• some viruses and bacteria
• ionizing radiation
• certain chemicals and other substances.

Three Most Common Cancers Among Men

Prostate cancer (105.3)

• First among men of all races and Hispanic* origin populations.

Lung cancer (71.6)

• Second among white, black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander men.
• Third among Hispanic men.

Colorectal cancer (44.8)

• Second among Hispanic men.
• Third among white, black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander men.

Leading Causes of Cancer Death Among Men

Lung cancer (56.2)

• First among men of all races and Hispanic* origin populations.

Prostate cancer (19.6)

• Second among white, black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic* men.
• Fourth among Asian/Pacific Islander men.

Colorectal cancer (17.6)

• Third among men of all races and Hispanic* origin populations.

Liver cancer

• Second among Asian/Pacific Islander men.

Three Most Common Cancers Among Women

Breast cancer (122.2)

• First among women of all races and Hispanic* origin populations.

Lung cancer (52.1)

• Second among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
• Third among Hispanic* women.

Colorectal cancer (34.1)

• Second among Hispanic* women.
• Third among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.

Leading Causes of Cancer Death Among Women

Lung cancer (36.4)

• First among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
• Second among Hispanic* women.

Breast cancer (21.3)

• First among Hispanic* women.
• Second among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.

Colorectal cancer (12.4)

• Third among women of all races and Hispanic* origin populations.

Source: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Taking care of yourself by living a well healthy lifestyle can significantly lessen your risk of cancer.