29,000 deaths vs 6,000. Which should get more attention?

The Ice Bucket challenge raised over $50 Million for ALSA, which is going to be diagnosed in about 5600 people this year.  ALS is responsible for 2 deaths for every 100,000 people.  That's 2 too many.

Let's cruise the math.  300 million folks in the US, let's say half are dudes.  1 in 36 men will be killed by Prostate Cancer so let's round that number down from 4.1 million to 4 million.  4 Million men currently in the US will be killed by Prostate Cancer in their lifetimes.  29,000 this year alone.

ALS will kill (since it also impacts women we'll say out of 300 million folks and ALSA states 2 in 100,000 will be killed...carry the 6, divided by pi...) 6000.

 

29,000 vs 6,000


Prostate Cancer will kill almost 5 times as many human beings as ALS this year.

I'm not anti-ALSA, in fact I'm against most things that kill people (stupidity sometimes gets a pass) but are our priorities in the right place?

I don't know.

So here's what we're going to do:

#1 QUIT USING TOBACCO


No one firing up a cigarette or pinching dip can even start to claim they believe in a healthy lifestyle.  There is no sense in literally GUARANTEEING your death by lung cancer (The #1 deadliest and most preventable cancer)

#2 CUT WAY WAY BACK ON THE SODA


Avoid diet soda like the plague, don't kid yourself that those 250 calories are making that big a difference in your overall diet.  The sweeteners are linked to a number of health related problems including, wait for it, cancer.  In addition, the caramel coloring added also increases risk of cancers.  I suggest Sierra Mist, natural sugar and no coloring, but in moderation!

#3 TALK TO YOUR FAMILY


Find out who is healthy and who is not and why.  If all your male relatives had prostate cancer, guess what?  If your mother and grandmother have cancer, guess what?

#4 TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR


Ask about your risk factors since you talked to all your relatives.  "Doc, all my female relatives have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, should I be worried?"  "Doc, my uncle had his prostate removed at 55, should I be worried?"

#5 GET INVOLVED


Join Kilted to Kick Cancer in spreading the word about the risk of Prostate Cancer, hell all cancer, and don't just sit back and jump on the first cause that wanders by on Facebook.  If your family is impacted by a certain ailment, get involved locally!  Donate money, time, food, rides anything and everything to help in your own community.

 

The white coats far away working on a cure need to be put out of work by us PREVENTING and LESSENING THE IMPACT of cancer.

Cancer is a lot easier to cure when no one gets it anymore.

 

Get Kilted! Get Checked!

 

Comments

Jay said…
Thanks HM words to live by.
Justin said…
Thanks for reading!