April is National Cancer Control Month, a time to learn how to lower your cancer risk and find cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Many cancers can be prevented or treated more successfully when they are found early.
What you should know
• Some cancers can be prevented by healthy lifestyle choices
• Cancer often does not cause symptoms at first
• Screening tests can find breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers early, before symptoms develop, when treatment is likely to work best.
• Finding cancer early can lead to better treatment outcomes
Ways to protect your health
• Don’t smoke or use tobacco
• Eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Stay active most days of the week
• Protect your skin from the sun
• Limit alcohol
• Know your family health history
• Get recommended cancer screenings
Together, we can build a healthier community through prevention and early detection. Your primary care provider can help you decide which cancer screenings you need.