February is National Cancer Prevention Month

February is National Cancer Prevention Month. According to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), nearly half of all cancers diagnosed and deaths from cancers in the United States are due to preventable causes. These causes include smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and excessive exposure to the sun.

This means we can take steps towards preventing certain cancers and protecting our health. Quitting smoking, 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 certain cancers.

You can get more information about cancer prevention in the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2021 and learn more about how modifying behaviors can impact cancer outcomes. You can also take their Cancer Prevention Quiz to test your knowledge and learn more about cancer risk reduction.

Learn more about this topic at AACR.org.