Prevention

Scientists at the IU Simon Cancer Center and around the world are studying what things around us and what things we do in our lives may increase or decrease our chance of developing cancer.

Anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor; anything that decreases a person’s chance of developing a disease is called a protective factor. Some factors are inherited or unavoidable, but some factors can be avoided.

Possible risk factors for cancer are a mix of lifestyle, hereditary and environmental factors and include:

  • tobacco and alcohol use
  • high-fat diet
  • being overweight
  • exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun
  • exposure to cancer-causing agents or carcinogens in the environment and workplace, such as ionizing radiation and other chemicals, metals or pesticides
  • exposure to hormones through such medical regimens as hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
  • being infected with certain viruses (although cancer is not contagious)
  • close relatives with certain types of cancer that tend to occur more often in some families than the rest of the population

Prevention means avoiding the risk factors and increasing the protective factors that can be controlled so that the chance of developing cancer decreases. Current cancer prevention recommendations include:

  • quitting tobacco use
  • making healthy, nutrient-rich food choices that includes a diet high in fiber, whole-grains, fruits and vegetables, and low in animal fat.
  • limiting alcohol to less than one drink per day
  • wearing protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen with at least a sun protective factor (SPF) of 12, and reducing mid-day UV radiation exposure during the hours of 10am-3pm
  • following work and safety rules to avoid or minimize contact with dangerous materials
  • discussing the risks and benefits of HRT with your doctor before beginning therapy

It is important to remember that avoiding risk factors does not guarantee that you will not get cancer. Also, most people with a particular risk factor for cancer do not actually get the disease. Some people are more sensitive than others are to factors that can cause cancer.

Talk to your doctor about regular check-ups and methods of preventing cancer that might be effective for you.

More information:

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection (American Cancer Society)

Cancer Risk: What the Numbers Mean (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Clinical Cancer Advances 2005: Major Research Advances in Cancer Treatment, Prevention and Screening (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

Healthy Living: Cancer Information (The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation)

Prevention, Genetics, Causes (National Cancer Institute)

Your Disease Risk (The Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention)