Can Cancer Be Prevented

Smoking and drinking alcohol cause some people to get certaintypes of cancer. All cancers caused by cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could be prevented completely. The best thing is to never use tobacco at all. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco all cause cancer and should not be used. People who already smoke should try to quit -- we know that former smokers have less risk of cancer than do people who continue to smoke.

Many of the more than 1 million skin cancers that are diagnosed every year could have been prevented by protecting the skin from the sun’s rays and avoiding indoor tanning. The chances of getting skin cancer can be lowered by staying in the shade as much as you can, wearing a hat and shirt when you are in the sun, and using sunscreen.

About one third of the cancer deaths expected every year are related to nutrition, overweight or obesity, and physical inactivity, and thus could also be prevented. We know that our diet, (what we eat) is linked to some types of cancer, but the exact reasons are not yet clear. The best advice is to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains like pasta and bread, and limit foods high in saturated fat, like high-fat dairy products, processed meats (like bacon, hot dogs, and luncheon meats), and red meats. It is also important to get to and stay at a healthy weight and get at least 30 to 45 minutes of physical activity on at least 5 days per week. You can get more information on this in our document, American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention.

Certain cancers are related to infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), human papilloma virus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and others. Many of these could be prevented through behavioral changes, vaccines, or antibiotics.

There is no way to prevent most cancers, but the best plan is to avoid risk factors you can control and make healthy lifestyle choices. Also see the section, "Cancer screening and early detection" for more information on things you can do to prevent cancer.