Cancer fight continues
For the past 29 years, I have been working to Stop Cancer Before It Starts® through research, education, outreach and advocacy for cancer prevention and early detection. I am both pleased and proud to see the newest data from the American Cancer Society that suggests a 22 percent drop in cancer mortality rates in the last two decades. This equates to 1.5 million lives saved, and it is indicative of the tremendous progress we have made in prevention and early detection.
However, this is no time to rest on our laurels. There are still more than 1.6 million Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and more than 580,000 will die from these diseases. Research shows that up to 60 percent of cancer cases and 50 percent of cancer deaths are preventable with the knowledge we have today.
Cancer is not entirely preventable, but we can significantly reduce our risk by maintaining a healthy weight, making healthy dietary choices, exercising, never using tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, being safe in the sun and getting screened.
To learn more about how you can reduce your cancer risk, visit www.preventcancer.org.
Carolyn R. Aldigé
President and Founder
Prevent Cancer Foundation
Alexandria, Virginia
St. Agatha shop fire
I would like to share some thoughts and feelings expressing my appreciation to the people with whom I have the privilege of working and gratitude to all who responded on that black night to the Nov. 22 fire at R.F. Chamberland, Inc. in St. Agatha.
To the young waitress on her way home from the Lakeview who made the 911 call. To young Robbie Chamberland courageously moving vehicles in the face of an intense inferno, and the shock on his face at finding a sleepy trucker in one of them. To his father, when wonder was expressed by an employee at the brothers’ positive attitude while the building was still burning saying, “What else can we do?” (Quitting is not in the vocabulary of this family.)
To Mark Chamberland, when asked by an employee if they should be moving stuff out of the offices and being told: “There is nothing in there that is worth a human life.” To Nicole Chamberland in prayer with her children for the safety of all on their way to the burning shop, as well as for the comfort and support of family and employes so close to Christmas. To Ellen Chamberland, through whose connections the acquisition of tools was facilitated. And to Shelly Coulombe, whose heartfelt grief expressed what family, employees and friends were feeling.
And last, but certainly not least, to the stouthearted firefighters who were directly responsible for saving the offices and likely the business.
Harold E. Daigle
Cross Lake