April Is National Cancer Control Month
To raise cancer awareness and prevent cancer in children and adults, April is Cancer Control Month. While most cancers can be effectively diagnosed through early screening, many cancers do not show signs or symptoms until they enter the later stages, so it can be tough to know when to get screened. Thankfully, the month of April is a great time to spread cancer awareness and get screened, even if you don’t already have signs or symptoms. For children, however, it is important that they eat healthy and stay active to prevent future disease.
Reduce Your Cancer Risk
Since the cause of many cancers is still unknown, cancer cannot be 100 percent prevented. But healthy eating and exercise do contribute to overall good health. This month, make it a point to get into the habit of healthy eating, quitting bad habits, and starting an exercise routine. April is all about cancer control, and overall good health starts with what’s on your plate!
A healthy weight is the first step in combating disease and health problems, so check your body mass index (BMI) and see where you fall. Your BMI measures your body fat based on your height and weight. You could fall under the categories of underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. By keeping a normal weight, you can fight hypertension, bad cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood glucose, and heart disease.
To help you reach and maintain a healthy weight, limit your sugar, sodium, and fat intake. These include foods with added sugars, salt, and foods high in fat. Many of these foods contain more calories than nutrients. You should also limit the amount of processed foods you consume. Instead, choose from vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains. Limit your animal protein to lean meats and seafood or stick to plant based options.
If you smoke, develop a support system to help you quit. Limit alcoholic beverages to one drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men. Healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of developing cancer, and it can play an important role in your cancer treatment.
April Is A Month To Raise Awareness Of Childhood Disease
Childhood cancers differ from cancer in adults. Although it’s rare, children do develop cancers that are common in adults, but about 31 percent of childhood cancers include leukemia. About 21 percent of childhood cancers include brain and central nervous system tumors, and 7 percent include neuroblastoma. Wilm’s tumor makes up for about 5 percent of childhood cancers, and Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma make up for 4 and 6 percent of childhood cancers.
Rhabdomyosarcoma and Retinoblastoma both make up for 3 percent of childhood cancers and bone cancers such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma account for 4 percent of childhood cancers.
Brighten A Child’s Life This Spring
Kids deserve a chance to do what they do best, which is simply being a kid. With the help of Make-A-Wish and Wheels For Wishes, a charitable car donation can help to grant the wish of a child with a critical illness. Wheels For Wishes accepts donated vehicles and recycles or auctions them off to benefit Make-A-Wish. Most makes and models are accepted and each and every vehicle donation makes a difference.
April is Cancer Control Month, and sometimes a child needs a wish granted in order to feel hope, strength, and joy once again. Part of controlling any disease or medical condition is being able to live and enjoy oneself, and a car donation can give a local child that opportunity.
To donate a vehicle to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish, please call 1-855-278-9474 or fill out an online donation form. View our Make-A-Wish Chapter List to find the Make-A-Wish chapter in your area. Your vehicle donation will make a difference in the life of a local child, so please donate today!
