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Show Utah Mormon Cancer Rate Under in State That of Non-Mormo- ns d less Utah Mormons have cancer than residing in the state, according to studies recently completed at the University of Utah Medical Center. one-thir- 8 Cancer rates for all Utahns are approximately 16 percnet lower than the national average. Within Utah, however, Mormons have about one-thiless cancer than according to studies conducted by Utah medical school Drs. J. L. Lyon J. W. Gardner and D. W. West. The three separate studies were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Nov. rd s, 1980). The cancer rate for Mormon men in Utah between 1967 and 1975 was 253 per 100.000 population. The corresponding rate for men in Utah was 345. During the same period, the cancer rate for Mormon women was 205 per 100.000 while the rate for women was 304. The most likely reason for lower cancer incidence rates among Mormons is their religious proscription on the use of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea and the teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints of n strict moral standards regarding premarital and extramarital sexual relationships," the studies said. Data from the Utah Cancer Registry were used to compare cancer incidence in Mormons and in Utah between the years 1967 and 1975. Church membership was identified through the cooperation of the LDS Church. Cancer sites associated with smoking showed an incidence in Mormons about one-hathat of The rate for cervical cancer in Mormon women was about one-haof that observed in women. Cancers of the and pancreas stomach, d were about lower in Mormons lf lf colon-rectu- one-thir- m than in group. of this religious rs The University Medical Center studies pointed out, however, that the incidence of lip cancer and malignant melanoma is higher both in Utah generally and among Utah Mormons. A possible reason for this is the large percentage of Utahns who are of northern European ancestry and thus considered more susceptible to cancers at sites of high sunlight exposure. The studies stated that conditions related to the place in which we live, including size, location and (amount of) industry have an important bearing on our risk of developing cancer. Lifelong city dwellers experience higher risks of developing cancers of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts and of the female breast than do residents in rural areas." The difference between the urban and rural cancer rates is thought to be associated with many factors including differences in the external environment, diet, occupation and personal habits. While cancer rates are generally higher in urban areas than rural, these University of Utah studies show that the differences do not hold in Mormon men. This is the most strikking finding of this study, the paper said. While urban men had a 34 percent greater incidence of cancer than their rural counterparts, there was pract-call- y no urban-rurdifference in cancer incidence for Mormon men. This was especially noticeable in d tobacco and sites," the studies said. The population fits the pattern of higher incidence in urban but the Mormon population areas does not fit this pattern. The urban Mormon population had al alcohol-associate- ... cancer incidence for all sites about 35 percent less than that of the population. The observed differences in cancer risk by place of residence are probably attributable to differences in and personal habits, the studies noted. In the urban areas of Utah, the Mormons, in contast to other groups, appear to have a pattern of living which produces lower cancer risk smiliar to that seen in rural populations. Cancer incidence in Utah is below that expected from national rates and this is primarily due to the lower incidence in its Mormon population, according to the studies. Cancer incidence for all smoking-relate- d sites and for the female sites of breast, cervix and ovary in Mormons is significantly lower compared with that in the and national populations. The studies also evaluated religious activity, spouses religion, country of ancestry, occupation and occupational exposures, education, consumption of coffee, tea and alcohol, other dietary patterns, marital history, sexual activity including use of birth control pills, and place of residence in Morin Utah. All of mons and the above factors are considered to affect the possibility of an individual cancer. Mormons were developing found to have quite different risk for each of these factors. Religious activity has a strong relationship with many cancer risk variables, according to the studies. in Utah may have more exposure than Mormons to environmental and occupational hazards. Smoking of tobacco and alcohol, coffee and tea consumption are lower among Mormons. This no doubt explains much of the Mormon - non - Mormon difference in the incidence of cancer, the studies said. life-sty- le non-Morm- Reunions a Powerful Anchor For Families in Turbulence Properly planned family re- unions can be a powerful anchor to the extended family in times of social turbulence, a Utah State University family life specialist says. Family reunions call to our memories a sense of kinship, fond memories and an opportunity for us to share how much we care for one another, said Dr. Glen Jenson, associate professor in the Department of Family and Human develop- ment at USU. Dr. Jenson suggested extended family gatherings can have value for both the young and the old. Family reunions might well be a major factor in redirecting a wayward son or daughter. At the very least, they will give additional meaning and purpose of the concept of families, he said. Another important value of the reunion is for families to have a good time together, the USU professor said. A good family reunion will include, among other things, good food made with nostalgic family recipes, games with prizes for everyone and awards for such things as the family member traveling the farthest, the worst singer, or other categories the family decides upon, he said. Talent shows, sharing family favorites in music, taking family photos and stories from older is that they educate the young and bridge the gap between this generation and the last generation and the generation to come. Often there will have been births or deaths since the last gathering, and this is an obvious orientation to the shortness of life and the importance of clinging to ones family as long as that opporJenson tunity is present, asserted. The USU professor recalled that Alex Haley called reunions a means of communicating with our living kin and a testament of our heritage. Reunions, Haley wrote, are nothing less than a familys roots brought to the surface. Besides a good time, a reunion should provide some nion claimed. This can be accomplished by having the reunion include an exchange of important family documents, workshops to help family members with areas of concern, and mobilizing resources of the whole family to help a family member who has experienced misfortune or has lost his or her way in the journey of life, he said. Another important factor is to have every family member be involved in reunion activities, he added. The family life specialists statement urged, Why not plan a family reunion this year and experience the new meaning and feeling that comes from knowing a family can be together forever? Mothers Arms Not Safest Place For Kids (Continued from Page 1 ) to buy two, or one that is convertible. A child under 20 pounds should be in an infant seat that faces the rear and that has a three-poishoulders and groin. restraint at the From 20 to 40 pounds, children can sit upright in a car seat that faces forward. Older children need a five-poirestraint at the shoulders, groin and thighs never across the abdomen. Both seats and carriers are held in place by the car's seat belt system. fliping forward on impact. The cars shoulder harness goes behind the car seat. Car seats can be a nuisance for parents with several children, notes Parfitt. But if you make them a normal part of behavior, like brushing your teeth, then nature. it. becomes second nt Its also extremely difficult to get toddlers into car seats, but if you start them out as infants and are consistent, most children will stay in them. family members are other Car seats also make drivers useful activities, he continued. An additional top tether, bolted to Parfitt adds, because theyre Perhaps the most important the back of the car, is required on some distracted by having to control of all benefits of the family reu childrens seats to keen the seat from children. LETTERHEADS WEDDINGS STICKERS ENVELOPES POSTERS BUSINESS CARDS CARBONLESS PAPER BUSINESS FORMS "DtMfK OFFSET otut BOOKS FLYERS MENUS NEWSPAPERS Svurtct AotdaMt and LETTERPRESS PRINTING COPIES WHILE YOU wait s strengths to the family, Jenson safe, not their |