April 3, 2026 Cancer Prevention is More Than Just Healthy Habits.
The World Health Organization reported that cancer remains one of the leading causes of death around the world, with around 10 million deaths noted in 2020.
The most common cancers in 2020, in terms of new cases, were:
- Breast cancer
- Lung
- Colon and rectum
- Prostate
- Skin
- And stomach
The most common risk factors for cancer include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, an unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity. Family health history also plays a factor in determining whether you have a high risk of developing any cancer.
A healthy lifestyle goes a long way when it comes to preventing diseases and increasing your quality of life, but screening plays a role in early diagnosis, which can increase one’s survival rate.
Importance of Cancer Screening
Most cancer risk factors are preventable: quitting tobacco, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and protecting yourself from sun exposure.
Cancer screening helps patients, especially those with a family history of cancer, check for signs of cancer before symptoms start showing.
One of the benefits of undergoing cancer screening includes:
- Catching cancer early, leading to receiving the proper, less aggressive mode of treatment with fewer side effects.
- Improved survival rates
- Reduced healthcare costs as compared to treating advanced-stage cancers
Recommended Cancer Screening
Recommended cancer screenings include breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.
Women between 40 and 74 should get breast cancer screenings every two years. Twenty-five-year-old women should start cervical cancer screening with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test.
Most people will start their colon cancer screenings at 45 to 75. People with a family history of the condition should ask their healthcare provider whether an early screening might be required.
The average for a prostate exam is usually 50, but it can start as early as 45. To prepare for your prostate cancer screening, your healthcare provider might ask you to abstain from sex for 48 hours before your exam, so your test results won’t be affected by temporarily increased Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.
