To the editor:

Cancer affects almost half of the people in our community- our parents, siblings, grandparents,

aunts, uncles, cousins- our loved ones. This awful disease is one of the leading causes of death not only in

our community but in our country. The rate of cancer in Mahoning County is ever growing, according to

the Ohio Department of Health, as of 2018, 434.7 per 100,000 residents were diagnosed with cancer and

159.7 per 100,000 residents had passed away due to cancer.

This issue is impacting our community immensely. As of 2018, the most prominent cancers in

Mahoning County (not in ranking order) are breast, prostate, bladder, colon/rectum, and lung/bronchus

cancer. Early identification and prevention is key to reducing the risk of developing cancer in our

community which is why cancer screening should be accessible and promoted to all.

It’s extremely important to educate our community about the factors that increase an individual’s

risk of developing cancer. According to the Ohio Department of Health, 23.3% of Mahoning County’s

adult residents are smokers, 33.1% are obese, 32.2% are physically inactive, and 17.2% drink alcohol

excessively. All of the risk factors listed are modifiable, meaning that they can be changed, they aren’t

permanent. The more risk factors an individual has, the higher risk they’re at for developing cancer.

After educating the community, implementation needs to occur within the community. To help

quit smoking, the number for smoking support groups should be posted in high volume areas within the

community. The numbers and links for the support groups are 877-448-7848 (The National Cancer

Institute Quitline), 800-227-2345 (The American Cancer Society Quitline), and www.lung.org/quit-

smoking/join-freedom-from-smoking (The American Lung Association). The are many ways to promote

healthy eating and physical activity within the community. One way is by offering incentives in the

workplace and at school and another way could be by creating a community park that promotes physical

activity. Finally, to help reduce excessive alcohol use within a community, the CDC recommends

increasing the taxes on alcohol, regulating alcohol density, enforcing commercial host liability laws,
limiting the days and hours of sales, and enhancing the enforcement of laws prohibiting sales to minors.

As a community we can make these changes and help decrease the risk of cancer in Mahoning County.

Sincerely,

Yiasmene Chirgott