National Cancer Prevention Month: What We Can Actually Do to Lower Risk

What this observance is

Every February, National Cancer Prevention Month encourages people to focus on the choices and steps that can lower cancer risk. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) leads the observance, highlighting that a meaningful share of cancer cases are linked to factors people can influence — such as tobacco use, sun exposure, physical activity, and vaccination. The message is hopeful and practical: not every cancer can be prevented, but risk can often be reduced.

What prevention actually means

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. NCI explains that this can include maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding exposure to known cancer-causing substances, and, for some cancers, taking medicines or vaccines that can prevent cancer from developing.

NCI is careful to note that cancer is not a single disease but a group of related diseases, and that many things in our genes, our lifestyle, and our environment may raise or lower risk. Some risk factors can be avoided and some cannot — NCI calls the ones a person can control "modifiable risk factors." Prevention is about improving the odds, not making guarantees.

What NCI highlights

NCI describes several well-established factors that increase cancer risk and that people can often act on. Tobacco is strongly linked to many cancers; NCI states that not smoking or quitting smoking lowers the risk of getting cancer and dying from it, and estimates that cigarette smoking causes about 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States. Certain infections matter too — NCI notes that HPV increases the risk of several cancers and that hepatitis B and C viruses increase the risk of liver cancer, which is why vaccines like the HPV vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine are part of prevention. NCI also points to sun and UV exposure, and to a range of diet and lifestyle factors, as areas people can influence.

Prevention and screening go together. Our free screening check-up tool can help you see which screenings might apply to you, and you can review general timing on our cancer screening guidelines by age page.

How to take part

• If you use tobacco, February is a good moment to ask about quitting smoking.
• Learn whether the HPV vaccine is relevant for you or your family.
• Build in sun safety habits year-round.
• Check whether you are up to date on recommended cancer screenings.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Given my age and history, are there screenings I should consider?
• Are there specific, modifiable risk factors in my life I could reduce?
• Are there vaccines, such as HPV or hepatitis B, that are relevant for me?
• Where can I find reliable prevention information rather than relying on rumor?