Fighting Cancer

63% of cancer deaths are caused by smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, or being overweight, based on data from the American Cancer Society, calculates Jennifer Irvin Vidrine, PhD, an assistant professor at M. D. Anderson and lead analyst of our survey. "Simply eating two servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables every day can reduce your risk," says Vidrine. Exercising at least 150 minutes per week (that's a 30-minute session, 5 days a week, for example) also protects against cancer. How secure you feel about your social status (your professional, financial, and community standing) affects whether you practice cancer-preventing habits--regardless of your actual profession or income, says Vidrine. Women who give themselves a higher status on a scale of 1 to 10 are more likely to: * Eat the recommended amount of servings of fruits (two) and vegetables (three) every day * Get a mammogram You're 2 1/2 times more likely to feel at risk of cancer if an immediate family member has had the disease. but…your health habits are just as important as your gene pool Although family history can increase your risk, most cancers occur in people who have no family history of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. 1. Tobacco use (causes 435,000 deaths): Single biggest risk factor for lung cancer 2. Poor diet and sedentary lifestyle (400,000 deaths): Plays a role in at least one-third of all cancers 3. Alcohol (85,000 deaths): Linked to breast, mouth, esophageal, and liver cancers