7 ways to reduce your risk of cancer

More than 1.6 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year.

This means nearly 40 percent of men and women will receive a cancer diagnosis at some point during their lifetime. However, people can lower their risk of many common cancers by seeing their health care provider regularly and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Here are the best ways you can help reduce your cancer risk:

1. Get regular screening tests.
Have your body checked for cancer through a test or scan before symptoms appear. Research shows that recommended cancer screenings can help prevent disease by finding precancerous lesions or cancers at an early stage when treatment may be most effective. Talk with your doctor about the best cancer-screening schedule for you.

2. Get immunized.
Vaccines can reduce the risk of cancer by preventing viral infections that can lead to certain types of cancer. For example, vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) can protect against cervical cancer, and vaccination against the hepatitis B virus can reduce the risk of liver cancer.

3. Stop smoking.
Smoking contributes to lung, mouth, throat and other cancers by exposing the body to cancerous chemicals contained in cigarettes. Secondhand smoke also increases the risk of cancer by 20 to 30 percent. Quitting tobacco is an important step in reducing your cancer risk.

4. Eat healthy.
While no single food can protect you against cancer, eating a nutritious diet can help. Research shows that a diet filled with a variety of nutrient-rich plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans helps lower the risk for several types of cancers.

5. Limit alcohol intake.
Alcohol (or ethanol) is a cancer-causing chemical. So, the more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time, the higher their risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer.

6. Exercise and maintain a healthy weight.
Being overweight or obese can raise cancer risk by disrupting hormone balance and immune system function. Being physically active for at least 150 minutes a week may help protect against cancer by improving energy metabolism, promoting healthy immunity and lowering the levels of hormones, such as insulin and estrogen, and of certain growth factors that have been associated with the growth of cancer cells.

7. Protect yourself from ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Exposure to UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds causes skin damage that can lead to skin cancer. If you're spending time outdoors, seek shaded areas, apply sunscreen and wear sun-protective clothes. Speak to a doctor or health care provider about the simple ways you can help prevent your risk of cancer through screenings or healthy lifestyle changes.

If you or someone you care about wants to quit smoking, health care providers at the In-Store Clinics and MDLive are on hand to support you in your plans to be tobacco-free from cigarettes or other forms of tobacco. There are additional educational materials available in the Walgreens Answer Centers on walgreens.com to support you as well.

Published on October 29, 2019

Sources:

How to Prevent Cancer or Find It Early. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/prevention/index.htm

Top 10 Cancer Sites: 2012, Male and Female, United States. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999-2012 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute; 2015. https://nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/toptencancers.aspx

Cancer Statistics. National Cancer Institute. National Institutes of Health, 2015. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/statistics

Cancer Screening Tests. How to Prevent Cancer or Find It Early. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/prevention/screening.htm

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