Cancer claims too many lives in Illinois. It is among the most prevalent, costly and preventable of all health problems.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Illinois and the United States. By the early part of the 21^st century, epidemiologists predict cancer will become the leading cause of death. In 1997, cancer caused 24,408 deaths in Illinois - almost 67 per day.

For 1999, the American Cancer Society (ACS) projects the estimated number of cancer deaths in Illinois to be 26,200 - approximately 72 per day. Cancer affects all racial and ethnic groups and kills more Illinoisans annually than AIDS, injuries and homicides combined.

Almost every Illinois family is in some way adversely affected by cancer - through the death of a loved one or through a family member living with cancer. On top of the physical and emotional toll is the enormous financial burden associated with this disease. The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates that cancer costs this nation an estimated $107 billion annually, including health care expenditures and lost productivity resulting from illness and death.

Illinois currently has the sixth largest elderly population in the United States, and the average life expectancy continues to rise. Since the incidence of cancer increases with age, cancer prevention and control in Illinois will continue to be of paramount importance for years to come.

The development of many cancers is related to personal lifestyles, behaviors and the environment. Major risk factors contributing to cancer include use of or exposure to tobacco products, inadequate diet, physical inactivity, exposure to ultraviolet radiation and presence of cancer-causing chemicals in the environment. Cancer incidence rates are also influenced by the use and availability of tests for identifying the disease in its earliest stages. Regular screening examinations can detect cancer at a point when treatment is more likely to be successful.

Many types of cancer can be prevented, and the prospects for surviving cancer are better than ever before and continue to improve.

Projections for the year 2000 indicate 55,003 Illinoisans will be diagnosed with cancer - approximately six new cases, every hour of every day.

Early detection and improved treatments are allowing more people who have been diagnosed with cancer to live longer and better. A person is considered "cured" if he/she remains disease free for five years; otherwise, the person is "living with cancer." According to the ACS, approximately four of 10 people diagnosed with cancer this year will be alive in five years. The five-year relative survival rate for all screening accessible cancers (breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, testis, oral and skin) combined is 81 percent. If all Illinoisans participated in regularly scheduled cancer screening, this rate could increase to more than 95 percent.

More than two-thirds of Illinois' cancer-related deaths could be prevented by not smoking, making appropriate nutrition and dietary choices, and engaging in adequate regular physical activity.

Tobacco Use. Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of premature death. Most patients with lung cancer die within a few months of their diagnosis. Only 14 percent of persons diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States will survive five years. Smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes, and using spit tobacco products cause one-third of all cancer-related deaths nationwide and in Illinois. Smoking is responsible for 87 percent of lung cancers and is also associated with cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, cervix, kidney and bladder.

Nutrition and Diet. Scientific studies have shown an association between nutrition and diet and at least one-third of all cancers. Dietary-related cancers may include breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung, oral, bladder, cervix, esophageal, prostate, stomach and liver. The single most important dietary factor for lowering cancer risk is to eat five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

Physical Activity. Researchers are studying the role of physical activity and its relation to reduced cancer risk through enhancing the immune system, shortening the time it takes to move food through the intestines, and altering body composition and hormone levels. In women, obesity is associated with an increased risk of cancer of the gallbladder, breast (for postmenopausal women), cervix, endometrium, uterus and ovary. Among men, obesity is associated with an increased risk of colon and prostate cancers.

In order to reduce the burden of cancer, we must work together to integrate and coordinate cancer programs and services.

The Illinois Department of Public Health's Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and the Illinois Partnership for Cancer Prevention and Control are leading the state's efforts to move forward with cancer prevention and control. The goal is to ensure that all Illinoisans are educated about cancer, its risks and prevention practices; have the opportunity for a lifestyle conducive to reducing cancer risks; have greater access to early diagnosis and treatment; and benefit from well planned policies and adequate resource.