Cancer Prevention

Cancer Prevention is about limiting a person's risk by stopping new cancer cases from developing, detecting some cancers at early, highly treatable stages, and preventing many cancer deaths.

What you should do to prevent cancer

• Get screened for cancer as recommended by your healthcare provider
• Do not use tobacco (more) and avoid second hand smoke (more)
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables (more)
• Get a lot of physical exercise (more)
• Avoid excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds (more)
• Practice safer sex
• Get your home checked for radon (more)
• Limit alcohol consumption (more)
• Get vaccinated for hepatitis B vaccine to reduce liver cancer risk and for human papillomavirus (HPV) to reduce the risk of cervical, vaginal, anal, and head/neck cancers (more)

About Cancer Screening

Screening involves checking for cancer or pre-cancerous conditions at an early stage when treatment is more effective.  Screening methods vary for different cancers and may include visual exams, laboratory tests, or special procedures. Screening tests for cancers of the colon-rectum, female breast, and cervix may detect tumors early enough to effect a long-term disease-free state. Screening tests for cancers of the prostate and ovary are still being assessed for effectiveness, although high-risk individuals might benefit from their use.  The effectiveness of mass screenings for cancers of other sites has not been fully evaluated. (more)

What we are doing to help pay for screening

The Comprehensive Cancer Control Program covers the cost of colorectal and breast and cervical cancer screening for program-eligible patients through our Women's Cancer Screening Program.