National Cancer Prevention Month

February is National Cancer Prevention Month. It reminds us to be vigilant in maintaining good health. And, it keeps us focused on behaviors that cause cancer, such as smoking. During National Cancer Prevention Month, make a vow to improve your health behaviors.

In many cases, what is known about cancer prevention is still evolving. However, it’s well-accepted that your chances of developing cancer are affected by the lifestyle choices you make. Cancer is a universal term for many forms of the disease.

The following are several ways you can reduce your risk:

• Don’t use tobacco
• Eat a healthy diet
• Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active
• Protect yourself from the sun. Skin cancer is one for the most common kinds of cancer – and one of the most preventable
• Immunizations are important
• Cancer prevention includes protection from certain viral infections. Talk to your doctor about immunizations
• Avoid risky behaviors
• Another effective caner prevention tactic is to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to infections that, in turn, might increase the risk of cancer. Practice safe sex, and don’t share needles.
• Get regular medical care
• Regular self-exams and screenings for various types of cancers – such as cancer of the the skin, colon, cervix and breast – can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful

Support Research to Prevent Cancer

The federal government estimates that 2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) during 2024, and that more than 600,000 will die from their disease. Research shows that more than 40% of these cases and nearly half of the deaths can be attributed to preventable causes – smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and excessive exposure to the sun, among others.

This means that steps such as quitting smoking (or never starting in the first place), maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, protecting your skin from the sun, and getting vaccinated against the pathogens that cause certain cancers, can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer in many cases.

Cancers and Public Education and Policy Initiatives

In the United States, many of the greatest reductions in cancer morbidity and mortality have been achieved through the implementation of effective public education and policy initiatives. For example, such initiatives drove down cigarette smoking rates among American adults by greater than twofold from 1965 to 2017. But three out of 10 cancer deaths are still caused by cigarette smoking, and lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women. 

It remains imperative that we identify strategies to enhance the dissemination and implementation of our current knowledge of cancer prevention.

The burden of preventable cancer risk factors isn’t shared equally. That burden is higher among racial and ethnic minorities and other medically underserved people. So it’s imperative that we implement effective, evidence-based practices that reduce risky behaviors for everyone.

Personalized Cause® and National Cancer Prevention Month

Personalized Cause® highlights more cancer causes than any website in the world. Check out our pins, ribbons, and wristbands that focus on prevention. Our tag line, KNOW MORE®, means just that. NO MORE and, of course, KNOW MORE. Education and awareness are key to keeping yourself healthy. The purpose of this awareness blog is to educate you so that you are able to identify signs and symptoms that you might otherwise ignore.

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