Don: Hey Yaël, Ready for a quiz?

     Which of the following is true?

      A. Cell phones can cause brain cancer.
      B. People in polluted cities are more likely to get lung cancer than people who           smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.
     C. Some injuries can cause cancer later in life.
          Or
     D. The risk of dying from cancer in the United States is increasing.

Yaël: Is this a trick question, Don? I think all those statements are false!

D: You're right! Unfortunately, not all Americans are as well-informed. A study      published by the American Cancer Society found that many Americans believe these      common myths about cancer.

     Almost seventy-percent of those surveyed believed that the risk of dying from cancer      is increasing in the US. The truth is that the number of cancer-related deaths per year      has been steadily declining since the early '90's.

     There's no evidence that cell phones cause cancer. Falls, bruises, bone fractures, and      other such injuries don't cause cancer. Sometimes when a patient visits the doctor for      treatment of an injury cancer is discovered. But the cancer was already there, it      wasn't caused by the injury.

     And by far, cigarette smoke is the biggest cause of lung cancer. Exposure to tobacco      smoke, including second-hand smoke, is thought to be responsible for over eighty-      percent of lung cancer deaths each year.

Y: Being misinformed about cancer might lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices. Or even      keep people from seeking preventive or life-saving medical treatments.

D: We all need to stay informed and get the facts from reliable sources, like your doctor,      or even "A Moment of Science."

Y: Now that statement I know is true!  

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