Cancer Prevention: Actions Can Make a Difference | CDC

Cancer Screening Tests | CDC

Cancer Prevention: Actions Can Make a Difference

There are many ways for you to take action to lower your risk of getting cancer and have a better chance of finding and treating cancer early. Healthy lifestyle choices such as getting regular physical activity, choosing a healthy eating plan, avoiding tobacco (or quitting if still smoking), and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink can reduce your risk of cancer. But, there’s more that you can do. Learning your family history of cancer can help you know if you have a higher risk for certain types of cancer. Screening tests are another way for you to take action. Getting recommended screening tests for breast, cervical, colorectal (colon), and lung cancers can find cancer early, when treatment is likely to work best.

• Breast cancer screening can find cancer before it causes symptoms and can be easier to treat.
• Cervical cancer screening can find abnormal cells before they can turn into cancer.
• Colon cancer screening can find polyps (abnormal growths) so they can be removed before turning into cancer.
• Lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can find cancer when treatment may work better, but is recommended only for adults who have no symptoms and are at high risk.

Talking with your doctor regularly about your health and family health history can help you understand when and how often you should be screened, so that you can take action to lower your risk of getting cancer. Cancer can still occur even if all these steps are taken. Learn more about screening tests.

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