Cancer society director concludes lectures

According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, there is an 32 percent greater chance of death from cancer for a nonactive male who smokes than for those who don't. For females, the statistics are similar. Sources say lifetime cigarette use kills at least half of all smokers.\nSharing these and other stark facts about cancer, John Seffrin, executive director of the ACS, concluded the cancer education series sponsored by the Hoosiers OutRun Cancer Thursday night. \nSeffrin, former chairman of the Department of Applied Health Science and professor of heath education in the school of Health, Physical Education and Recreation for 13 years, has been on leave from the University for the past nine years. Seffrin has devoted much of his professional career to educating himself and others about the causes and cures of cancer.\n"More than 1,500 people each day die from cancer," Seffrin said. "Last year, there was a total of 553,400 cancer-related deaths, and there are 1.2 million new cases of cancer every year."\nSince 1991, cancer mortality rates have decreased, and today the United States has a 62 percentsurvival rate from cancer. \n"How cancer develops is no longer a mystery," Seffrin said quoting an article from "Scientific American" by Robert Weinber. "More than 30 percent of cancer related deaths come from tobacco."\nAnnouncing goals that the American Cancer Society has set for the year 2015, Seffrin said the Society would like to see a 50 percent reduction in the age-adjusted cancer mortality rate and a 25 percent reduction in the instances of cancer. \n"We just want to see a basic improvement in the quality of life for cancer survivors," Seffrin said.\nSeffrin's lecture was the seventh in a series of cancer education programs sponsored by Hoosiers OutRun Cancer. \nThis year was the trial run for the cancer education series. Carol Gillard and Debbie Sibbitt, co-chairs of the organizing committee for Hoosiers OutRun Cancer, feel the lecture series has made a positive impact in the organization's second year.\n"All of the lectures have been well attended and interesting," Gillard said. "We are pleased with the way each of the lectures turned out."\nThe Bloomington community can look forward to the lecture series for many more years to come, Sibbitt said.\nThe main events for Hoosiers OutRun Cancer begin Saturday morning with a 5K walk and run, accompanied by a one-mile family walk. Students wishing to participate can still register at the IU Gladstein Field House, east of Assembly Hall, from 4-7 p.m. today. \nHoosiers OutRun Cancer donates all of the money raised from the event to the Bloomington community, Sibbitt said.\nLast year Hoosiers OutRun Cancer raised more than $200,000 with 2300 participants and 300 volunteers.\nWith the help of organizations such as Hoosiers OutRun Cancer, Seffrin is convinced that cancer can be eradicated in the 21st century. \n"Seventy to 80 percent of all cancer-related deaths are avoidable," Seffrin said. "What we know today must be applied in the fight against cancer."\nAdditional information about Hoosiers OutRun Cancer and the American Cancer Society can be found at www.hoosiersoutruncancer.org and www.cancer.org.