(KFVS) - The American Cancer Society is recommending people to start eating healthy and start a healthy living regimen today.

The society says tobacco use, obesity and sedentary lifestyle are the top three causes of cancer; all are behavior-related and preventable.

“Cancer prevention starts this minute,” said Sharon Smaga, MD, Assistant Director of SIU Family Medicine Program and American Cancer Society Medical Ambassador. “It is never too late to make changes in ones lifestyle that can help the body defend itself against disease.”

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use accounts for 30 percent of all cancers. Adult obesity caused by poor diet is responsible for another 30 percent of all cancers, and sedentary lifestyle for five percent.

For more information contact your local American Cancer Society at 618-998-9898, option 3 or go to www.cancer.org.

(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Health says National Influenza Vaccination Week will be December 4 through 10.

The national observance was established to highlight the importance of influenza vaccinations and encourage more people to be vaccinated after the holiday season, into January and beyond.

“Getting vaccinated is the single best way for people to protect not only themselves against flu, but their loved ones as well,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Acting Director Dr. Kenneth Soyemi.  “The flu season typically runs from October to May, with the peak around January, so get vaccinated today before all the holiday parties and family gatherings.”

The IDPH says one of the biggest myths about the flu is the person gets the flu from a flu shot. They say the influenza vaccination cannot give you the flu because the flu shot contains killed viruses, and the nasal spray has weakened viruses that cannot cause illness.

(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Public Health urged Illinois smokers on Thursday to "Call it Quits" by participating in the Great American Smokeout.

This year is the American Cancer Society's 36th Annual Great American Smokeout, which is observed every third Thursday in November each year to encourage smokers to quit, and offer healthy lifestyle tips.

According to the IDPH, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S., although more than 46 million Americans still smoke. They say in Illinois, 21 percent of adults over 18, more than 2 million residents, are smokers, and 10 percent of youths between the ages of 12 and 17 smoke.