Majority of Cancer Deaths Preventable

Over 60 percent of cancer deaths could be prevented if people stopped smoking, exercised more, ate healthier food and underwent recommended cancer screenings, according to the American Cancer Society. This year 1.368 million Americans will learn they have cancer and 563,700 will die. "The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005, more than 168,140 cancer deaths will be caused by tobacco use alone," the organization said in a statement. "In addition, scientists estimate that approximately one third (190,090) of the 570,280 cancer deaths expected to occur in 2005 will be related to poor nutrition, physical inactivity, overweight, obesity and other lifestyle factors." That totals 358,230, or 62 percent, of all cancer deaths.