{"id":561,"date":"2016-11-05T18:09:04","date_gmt":"2016-11-05T18:09:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroecc-hed110\/?post_type=chapter&p=561"},"modified":"2016-12-10T15:13:14","modified_gmt":"2016-12-10T15:13:14","slug":"cancer-prevention","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/atd-monroecc-healthed\/chapter\/cancer-prevention\/","title":{"raw":"Cancer Prevention","rendered":"Cancer Prevention"},"content":{"raw":"

How Can Cancer Be Prevented?<\/h2>\r\nThe number of new cancer cases can be reduced and many cancer deaths can be prevented. Research shows that screening for cervical and colorectal cancers as recommended helps prevent these diseases by finding precancerous lesions so they can be treated before they become cancerous. Screening for cervical, colorectal, and breast cancers also helps find these diseases at an early stage, when treatment works best.\r\n\r\nVaccines (shots) also help lower cancer risk. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps prevent most cervical cancers and several other kinds of cancer, and the hepatitis B vaccine can help lower liver cancer risk.\r\n\r\nA person\u2019s cancer risk can be reduced with healthy choices like avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol use, protecting your skin from the sun and avoiding indoor tanning, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, keeping a healthy weight, and being physically active.\r\n

Avoiding Tobacco<\/h2>\r\n

Cigarette Smoking<\/h3>\r\nLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and cigarette smoking causes almost all cases. Compared to nonsmokers, current smokers are about 25 times more likely to die from lung cancer. Smoking causes about 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths. Smoking also causes cancer of the mouth and throat, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, voicebox (larynx), trachea, bronchus, kidney and renal pelvis, urinary bladder, and cervix, and causes acute myeloid leukemia.\r\n\r\nVisit smokefree.gov<\/a> to learn how you can quit smoking.\r\n

Secondhand Smoke<\/h3>\r\nAdults who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20% to 30%. Concentrations of many cancer-causing and toxic chemicals are higher in secondhand smoke than in the smoke inhaled by smokers.\r\n

Protecting Your Skin<\/h2>\r\nSkin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the United States. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and tanning beds appears to be the most important environmental factor involved with developing skin cancer. To help prevent skin cancer while still having fun outdoors, protect yourself by seeking shade, applying sunscreen, and wearing sun-protective clothing, a hat, and sunglasses. For more information, visit What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk of Skin Cancer?<\/a>\r\n
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Detecting Melanoma<\/h3>\r\nMelanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole. Most melanomas have a black or black-blue area. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole. It may be black, abnormal, or \"ugly looking.\"\r\n\r\nThinking of \"ABCDE<\/strong>\" can help you remember what to watch for:\r\n