Beating Cancer

One of the keys to beating cancer is early detection. There is a wide range of less-toxic or invasive treatment options available the earlier it's caught. Pay close attention to your body and any changes it may undergo, and make it a priority to have regular medical checkups and appropriate screenings, particularly if there is a history of cancer in your family. This may be easier said than done for the millions of Americans who don't have any health care coverage. Their diagnoses tend to be made later and they have a poorer survival rate. In that instance, your best strategy may be to make health care a monthly expense that you save up for by tightening your budget in less critical areas so that you can afford annual doctor or dental visits.

Preventive care can make the difference between getting cancer and not. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, get regular exercise, don't smoke, drink in moderation and try to deal effectively with stress.

Robert, a 39-year-old retired Army Master Sergeant, credits a lifetime of exceptional physical fitness and a good mental attitude as being crucial to beating the kidney cancer that had already begun to metastasize into his lungs and lymph nodes by the time he was diagnosed. He underwent several surgeries and debilitating immunotherapy on his journey back to good health.

Actress Christina Applegate changed her lifestyle to include a healthier diet after her breast cancer was diagnosed. She chose to undergo a double mastectomy when she was only 36 to ensure her cancer would never return. Her advice is to laugh and be forgiving; in other words, have a good mental attitude and reduce stress.