10 Cancer Facts that
May Surprise You
Article by ASTRO Staff
(BPT) - There are more than 100 types of cancer that impact people of all backgrounds. It's likely that cancer has touched you or someone close to you. There is a lot to know about cancer and its effects on people in the United States and around the world. How many of these 10 cancer facts do you know?
* Cancer is prevalent: In 2019, there will be an estimated 1.7 million new cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). What's more, approximately 39 out of 100 women and men will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime.
* Skin cancer is the most common cancer for women and men: For women, the next most common cancers are breast cancer,
lung cancer and colorectal cancer. For men, the next most common cancers are prostate cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer.
* Most cancer patients will receive radiation therapy: About two-thirds of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment, according to the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is the use of various forms of radiation to treat cancer and other diseases. Radiation therapy has been an effective cancer treatment for more than 100 years.
* Some cancers are preventable: Not using tobacco is the single best way a person can prevent cancer from