SATURDAY, Feb. 17, 2007 (HealthDay News) -- The American Cancer Society has rolled out its new Great American Health Challenge, a campaign to educate Americans about cutting their cancer risk.
The yearlong program encourages people to take the following actions in order to lower their cancer risk or to detect cancer at an early stage, when it's most treatable:
To get started in the Great American Health Challenge, take the Great American Health Check on the cancer society's Web site. The health check can assess your cancer risk factors and provide a customized action plan to reduce your cancer risk.
Other components of the Great American Health Challenge will be offered later this year. In August, the Great American Eat Right Challenge will provide advice about healthy eating habits and regular exercise. In November, the Great American Smokeout will once again seek to inspire and help smokers kick the habit.
It's estimated that 50 percent of cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented through healthy lifestyle habits, according to the American Cancer Society. Reducing cancer deaths by 50 percent would save about 280,000 lives every year in the United States.
More information
Here's where you can find the Great American Health Check.