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Investment Opportunity: Cancer Prevention and Integrative Oncology This year alone, nearly 1.7 million Americans will hear the dreaded words, “You have cancer.” Roughly 600,000 will die from it. Approximately half of those deaths could be prevented, however, if people made healthy lifestyle choices. The James M. Cox Foundation Center for Cancer Prevention and Integrative Oncology at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center is devoted to educating individuals about cancer prevention while providing invaluable integrative therapies to cancer patients and survivors. The Power of Prevention Not smoking, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active and getting recommended screening tests have proved effective in reducing a person’s risk of developing cancer. Despite the known value of these prevention strategies, about 42 million Americans smoke, 35 percent of Americans are obese and the use of screening tests nationwide falls below recommended targets. As a result, cancer is expected to overtake heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States within the next 15 years. Through the Cox Center, physicians and staff are working to combat cancer by spreading the message that cancer is preventable and educating people of all ages about steps they can take to avoid hearing the words, “You have cancer.” Among the Cox Center’s many cancer prevention programs are those centered on smoking cessation, good nutrition, exercise, weight management and cancer screening. Programs are held at schools, health fairs, town halls, conferences, open houses and retirement centers. Prevention education is also delivered through a monthly newsletter mailed to more than 100,000 homes across the Valley. For those at high risk of developing cancer, oneon-one prevention consultations and, in some cases, genetic counseling can provide a better understanding of the risks and appropriate preventive measures. An Integrative Approach to Care and Coping Research suggests that 60 to 90 percent of cancer patients incorporate some form of complementary or alternative therapy in their cancer treatment. Only a few of the Tobacco use is the nation’s cancer centers, No. 1 preventable however, provide truly integrative programs in which cause of death, oncologists and these other accounting for at providers collaborate to least 30 percent of serve patients. The Cox Center provides integrative health consultations and therapeutic services to help cancer patients and survivors minimize both the short- and long-term side effects of treatment. Cancer care experts and other providers work together to develop individualized treatment plans that blend conventional medicine with scientifically supported and safe all cancer deaths. Despite the risks, about 42 million Americans are smokers. By 2030, cancer is expected to overtake heart disease as the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. integrative therapies. Music therapy, massage therapy, aromatherapy, pet therapy, spiritual care and more help ensure we treat the whole person—mind, body and spirit. The integrative oncology team at the Cox Center, which includes an oncologist, registered dietician, exercise physiologist and social worker, meets with patients to discuss quality-of-life issues experienced along the cancer journey. They address a multitude of topics ranging from nutrition, exercise, depression and stress management, to family and caregiver support, pain and fatigue. The cancer center offers yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, meditation, physical rehabilitation, counseling and support groups for both patients and caregivers. These are among the many programs provided under the supervision of oncology professionals to ensure a truly integrative cancer care experience. Banner MD Anderson is further distinguished by a robust survivorship program that leverages individualized care plans to help patients cope with the lasting social, physical, spiritual, economic and psychological consequences of conquering cancer. Meeting the Need A generous $5 million gift from the James M. Cox Foundation supported the start-up of the Cox Center. However, additional philanthropic support is needed to sustain and expand its service offerings to meet growing cancer prevention and treatment needs. Since opening in April 2014, the Cox Center has expanded to include a tobacco cessation program, a physical-rehabilitation gym, a breast cancer survivorship clinic and a prostate cancer support group. Also offered are classes on yoga, mindfulness and guided meditation, writing for wellness and nutrition during cancer. Additional services such as massage and aromatherapy treatments, music and expressive-arts classes, and additional community outreach programs are on the horizon. The more cancer patients and community members who are served by the Cox Center’s multitude of prevention programs and integrative oncology services, the more lives that can be spared from the threat of cancer and the more patients healed, in both body and mind. Your philanthropic support will ensure the continued development of the Cox Center and help make cancer history.