Jobs' death a stark reminder

To the Editor:

I was saddened to hear about visionary inventor Steve Jobs' death from pancreatic cancer.

Jobs is being remembered for his strong leadership and brilliant innovations. As a health care professional, I know people are also looking for ways to protect themselves from the disease he battled for seven years.

Pancreatic cancer is almost impossible to cure, but diet and lifestyle changes can help prevent this disease.

Diets rich in fruits an vegetables help reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a recent Italian study in Cancer Causes and Control.

Those who consumed the most fruits and vegetables had an estimated 40 percent decreased risk, compared with those who ate the least.

The study found that frequent meat consumption can double risk and that table sugar and white potatoes also increase risk.

For more information on how to protect your family from cancer, go to www.CancerProject.org.

Sincerely,

Joseph Gonzales, R.D., L.D.,

Staff Dietitian,

The Cancer Project,

Washington, D.C.