Can you prevent cancer

But everyone should at least try to live a healthy lifestyle because we know that we can reduce the risk of this disease. My Chart. Donate Today. For Physicians. Cancer Moonshots. January Can you prevent cancer?

Next Article. January : Can you prevent cancer? How do we know that up to 50 percent of cancers could be prevented? What about environmental toxins? How do cancer screening exams impact your cancer risk? Where is the study of cancer prevention going and what do you think the outcomes will be?

What do you think is the most important thing for people to know about cancer prevention? Related Posts. More Stories From Focused on Health. Office spaces are fast becoming a drain on our health: Too much sitting, too much screen time, and not enough movement. Our expert can help you turn that around with these tips to make your office a health hub.

Snacks happen. If you need a little something to tide you over until your next meal, our expert can help you make a healthy snack choice. Help EndCancer. Give Now. Your gift will help make a tremendous difference. Donate Blood. Learn more. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. This content does not have an English version.

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National Cancer Institute. Accessed Nov. Singh SK, et al. Cancer immunoprevention and public health. Frontiers in Public Health. Colditz GA. Cancer prevention. Fletcher SW, et al. Evidence-based approach to prevention. Cuzick J. Preventive therapy for cancer. The Lancet. Health risks of smokeless tobacco. American Cancer Society. Diet and physical activity: What's the cancer connection? Physical activity and cancer.

HPV vaccines. How do I protect myself from UV rays? Recommended vaccines for healthcare workers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The link between HPV and cancer. Avoid tobacco in all its forms, including exposure to secondhand smoke. You don't have to be an international scientist to understand how you can try to protect yourself and your family.

Eat properly. Reduce your consumption of saturated fat and red meat, which may increase the risk of colon cancer and a more aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Exercise regularly. Physical activity has been linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer. Exercise also appears to reduce a woman's risk of breast and possibly reproductive cancers. Exercise will help protect you even if you don't lose weight. Stay lean. Obesity increases the risk of many forms of cancer. Calories count; if you need to slim down, take in fewer calories and burn more with exercise.

If you choose to drink, limit yourself to an average of one drink a day. Excess alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, larynx voice box , esophagus food pipe , liver, and colon; it also increases a woman's risk of breast cancer. Smoking further increases the risk of many alcohol-induced malignancies. Avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation. Get medical imaging studies only when you need them. Check your home for residential radon, which increases the risk of lung cancer.

Protect yourself from ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, which increases the risk of melanomas and other skin cancers. But don't worry about electromagnetic radiation from high-voltage power lines or radiofrequency radiation from microwaves and cell phones. They do not cause cancer. Avoid exposure to industrial and environmental toxins such as asbestos fibers, benzene, aromatic amines, and polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs.

Avoid infections that contribute to cancer , including hepatitis viruses, HIV, and the human papillomavirus. Many are transmitted sexually or through contaminated needles.