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.
- Quit using tobacco or nicotine:
- CDPHE resources and information can help you or your loved ones quit today.
Eat a healthy diet, be physically active, and maintain a healthy weight
- The American Cancer Society Guideline for Diet and Physical Activity includes information about increasing daily physical activity and making more wholesome food choices.
- Learn more about Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL).
- The CSU Extension’s FoodSmart Colorado website has information about healthy eating and physical activity.
- Excess body weight is thought to be linked to 13 types of cancers according to the American Cancer Society.
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.
- Testing your home for radon can reduce your exposure to this gas. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about radon and how to test your home.
- Learn more about radon in Colorado.
- The EPA offers additional information about radon and testing your home.
- For more information watch the Radon Awareness video on YouTube.