What does cancer prevention mean?

Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases is lowered, which can reduce the burden of cancer and lower the number of deaths from it.

Cancer is not a single disease but a group of related diseases. Many things in our genes, our lifestyle, and the environment around us may increase or decrease our risk of getting cancer.

Scientists study many ways to help prevent cancer, including:

• Avoiding or controlling things known to cause cancer
• Making changes in diet and lifestyle
• Finding precancerous conditions early
• Using medicines to lower risk (chemoprevention)
• Risk-reducing surgery

Not every risk factor can be avoided, so prevention lowers the chances of cancer but cannot guarantee it. Your healthcare team can suggest steps that make sense for you.