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Preventing cancer

Protect yourself before cancer occurs

There are things you can to help reduce your risk of cancer.

Don’t use tobacco

According to the American Cancer Society 2023 Cancer Facts & Figures, tobacco use accounts for at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths. 

Eat a healthy diet, be physically active, and maintain a healthy weight

Get regular medical care

  • Regular medical care, including colonoscopies and HPV vaccinations, can help keep you healthy and raise the chances of finding cancer early. 

Protect yourself in the sun

  • Skin cancer has the 5th and 6th highest incidence rates in Colorado for men and women, respectively. There are many ways to greatly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer including:
    • using sunscreen
    • spending time in the shade
    • wearing a hat, sunglasses, and other sun-protective clothing
  • The National Environmental Education Foundation's SunWise program is a free environmental and health education program that teaches K-8 children about sun safety, UV radiation, and stratospheric ozone.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency's UV Index provides a daily forecast of the expected intensity of UV radiation from the sun. You can also learn more about how the UV Index can be calculated and analyzed, sign up for UV index email alerts and find links to nstall the UV index app on your mobile device.

Check your home for radon

You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, a deadly cancer-causing gas. 

 

Next, find out about cancer screening and early detection.