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| Tips to reduce your cancer risk |
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Experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research believe you can reduce your risk of cancer if you make an educated effort to improve your diet. Some of the changes they suggest:
- Eat a diet with less fat, especially saturated fats found primarily in animal products
- Add more fiber into your diet
- Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, especially yellow squash, carrots and leafy greens
- Use less salt or salted foods
- Cut out foods that contain nitrites and nitrates, such as bologna, hot dogs, and lunch eats
- Consume fewer barbecued and smoked meats
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Changing food habits takes time. But by cutting back on fats, animal products and processed foods, you can improve your health and your feeling of well-being. You may even reduce the risk of developing cancer.
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| Prostate Cancer: To Screen or Not to Screen |
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The medical community doesn’t always agree on treatment for some conditions. Did you know that they sometimes don’t agree on screenings, either?
Screening for prostate cancer is a case in point. Some medical experts believe all men should be offered regular screening tests for prostate cancer. Other medical experts do not recommend screening – except for those at increased risk because of family medical history or race.
Who’s Right or Wrong?
Medical experts who encourage regular screening believe current scientific evidence shows that finding and treating prostate cancer early, when treatment might be more effective, may save lives. They recommend that men should be offered annual screening tests beginning at age 50.
Medical experts who do not recommend regular screening want convincing evidence that finding early-stage prostate cancer, and treating it, saves lives. They believe some of these cancers may never affect a man’s health, and treating them could cause temporary or long-lasting side effects like impotence and incontinence.
What’s a Guy to Do?
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While they may not agree on screening, the medical experts do agree that every man needs balanced information on the pros and cons of screenings to help him make an informed decision.
All PEBB medical plans cover screenings for prostate cancer, beginning at age 50. But the choice of whether to have a screening is up to a man and his doctor.
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If you fit the profile, start the discussion with your provider and ask for more information to help you decide. Find a good starting point at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site. It offers several decision guides that can help you talk with your doctor and weigh the risks and benefits.
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| Time for your cancer screening |
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| Happy BirthdayTime for your screening |
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Why the link between birthdays and cancer screenings? Because your age often determines your screening schedule.
Your Benefit Board designed your medical plan to fully cover the cost of cancer screenings based on schedules recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Check recommendations from the Task Force, and check with your provider to schedule your screenings.
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