More than 1.4 million Americans face a cancer diagnosis each year, and Cross is no stranger to the condition: Her grandfather, cousin, former longtime partner, and now her husband have all battled it. “Stand Up to Cancer is really Stand Up to Not Getting Cancer,” Cross tells WebMD. She offers these potentially lifesaving tips to help protect you and your family from the disease:
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1.Be vigilant.
Skin cancer screenings, mammograms plus monthly breast checks in the shower, colonoscopies, prostate exams ... the list goes on. All have one thing in common: to catch cancer in its earliest stages when it is most treatable. Be sure to discuss with your doctor exactly which screenings you need, then schedule them -- and go.
2. Be proactive, not reactive.
“We should be fighting cancer from a healthy position, before we get that diagnosis,” says Cross. “The chemicals we use, our household cleaners, the foods we eat, our stress levels: Our bodies were not meant to absorb this level of toxicity. We have to wake up!” Cross urges us all to take an honest look at our lifestyles, from our grocery lists to the hours we keep. Our choices could make a difference not just for cancer but for overall health. Are you taking an offensive, as opposed to defensive, position for your health?
3. Be informed.
Cross scoured the Internet and read everything she could find on the subject of her husband’s cancer, even delving into medical journals, now easily available online. “I read so many case histories,” she tells WebMD. “We went into appointments with our doctors already familiar with what they were suggesting. And it offered us a sense of control, too, because we could make informed decisions.”