February is National Cancer Prevention Month
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are three primary ways to decrease your risk of developing cancer: screening tests, vaccinations, and healthy lifestyle choices.
Screening Tests
Science is continuing to develop new and less invasive ways to detect cancers. Here are four of the most important screens. Your provider may have different recommendations depending on your individual risk factors.
- Mammograms: The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women who are 40 to 74 and average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years. A mammogram can catch breast cancer early, improving important outcomes, including survival.
- Pap test: The pap test can identify abnormal cells in the cervix, allowing treatments to prevent cancer or early detection. Women should get a Pap test starting at age 21. Your provider will determine your follow-up frequency based on risk factors and your initial findings.
- Colorectal screenings: Colorectal cancer generally starts from pre-cancerous polyps. If caught early and removed, you significantly decrease the risk of cancer. Screening should start at 45 for most people.
- Lung Cancer screening: The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that people with a 20-pack year or greater history of smoking within the last 15 years are screened with a low-dose CT scan if they are between 50 and 80 years of age. Early detection significantly improves outcomes if someone should develop lung cancer.
Vaccinations
Two vaccinations are very helpful in preventing infections, which can, in some cases, cause future cancers.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine: The HPV vaccine is recommended for preteens ages 11-12 or anyone 26 or under who has not received it. The vaccine prevents many new HPV infections, resulting in a significantly decreased risk of cervical cancer.
- Hepatitis B vaccine: The vaccine can be given to people of most ages. Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. Some people infected by the virus develop a chronic illness that can lead to liver disease or even cancer.
Lifestyle Choices
Many of the things you can do to improve your heart health can also decrease your risk of developing cancer.
- Stop smoking: Cigarette use doesn’t only increase your risk of lung cancer but also can weaken your immune system, putting you at higher risk for other cancers.
- Put on sunscreen and cover your skin: Too much ultraviolet light, particularly if you get sunburn, increases the risk of skin cancer. Covering up and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 will help to protect you.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight has been correlated with higher risks for multiple cancers, including breast, colon, kidney, and liver cancers.