Cancer Prevention Works: Take Action to Reduce the Impact of Cancer

National Cancer Prevention Month: Inspiring Action February has started and some people have already strayed away from the health goals they set at the beginning of the year, such as quitting smoking or getting to a healthy weight. It’s not too late to start again! This is National Cancer Prevention Month and those health goals can also help prevent cancer. You can reduce your risk of getting cancer by making these healthy choices: Avoid tobacco Limit the amount of alcohol you drink Get to or keep a healthy weight Protect your skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays In addition to making healthy choices, getting regular cancer screenings and vaccinations as recommended can be part of your goals for better health. Screening tests for breast, cervical, and colorectal (colon) cancers can find cancer early, when treatment works best.  Read More

World Cancer Day and Beyond: Commit to Cancer Prevention Across the world, February 4th is recognized as World Cancer Day to raise awareness about cancer, promote equity in access to treatment, and improve cancer survival rates. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. World Cancer Day is a time to not only take note of the cancer burden, but to also focus on cancer prevention efforts. The theme and 3-year campaign for World Cancer Day, “I am and I will,” encourages people to commit to taking action to reduce the impact of cancer personally, for their loved ones, and for the world. In our World Cancer Day blog post, CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control director, Dr. Lisa Richardson, highlights the progress CDC has made in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment through national programs that reach people in need (National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, Colorectal Cancer Control Program). CDC’s nationwide campaigns (Bring Your Brave, Screen for Life, and Inside Knowledge) have increased awareness and educated people about cancer through personal stories from survivors that show the importance of family health history and cancer screening. Dr. Richardson also shares her excitement about the opportunities ahead that can make a difference in cancer prevention. Read More State Colorectal Cancer Screening Intervention Recognized as a Model for Others The New Hampshire Colorectal Cancer Screening Program (NHCRCSP) Patient Navigation Intervention is now on the Research-tested Intervention Programs (RTIPs) website. RTIPs is a searchable database of evidence-based cancer control interventions where public health practitioners can access program materials for their own use. The NHCRCSP intervention is one of 21 colorectal cancer interventions available via RTIPs, and among those, one of only two using patient navigation. The intervention was developed by NHCRCSP Principal Investigator and gastroenterologist Dr. Lynn Butterly and Program Director Joanne Gersten. It centers on nurse navigators providing individualized support, via telephone, to help individuals identify and overcome personal and health care systems barriers to screening. An evaluation led by the Program Evaluation Team in DCPC’s Program Services Branch, found the NHCRCSP patient navigation model to be highly effective in increasing the completion and quality of colonoscopy screening among underserved groups. Patients in the program who were navigated were 11 times more likely to complete a colonoscopy than a comparison group who were not. CDC worked with the NHCRCSP team to evaluate the intervention and develop a manual to help others replicate the model. An article demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of this intervention was recently published in the journal Cancer. Read More New Publication on Mammography Use Shows Differences in States and Counties A new CDC study, "Multilevel Regression for Small-Area Estimation of Mammography Use in the United States, 2014" was published online in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. The study looks at differences in mammography uptake among counties in the United States based on recommended breast cancer screening and the national objective for breast cancer screening (increase to 81.1% by 2020). According to updated recommendations in 2016, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (UPSTF) recommends breast cancer screening every 2 years for average-risk women aged 50-74 years. Study results show large differences in estimated proportions of women up-to-date with mammography and women who rarely or never had a mammogram. Twenty-one states were within 5% of the 2020 target of 81.1%. However, many counties were far below 80%. Counties with 15% or more of women who rarely or never had a mammogram, were located in more than half of the states, many in rural areas. These results suggest a need for planning and improving how resources are distributed on local levels to increase mammography uptake. Read More

Did You Know? Alcohol use increases the risk of several cancers including liver, colorectal (colon), mouth and throat cancers, and female breast. The risk of cancer increases with the number of drinks consumed. Overweight or obesity are associated with at least 13 different types of cancer. Physical activity helps prevent overweight or obesity, which can reduce a person's risk for cancers related to excess body weight.