Cancer

Why it's important

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. One in three women and one in two men will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their life. Prevention, screening, and treatment options are available for most types of cancer and their use and advancements in each have decreased death rates due to cancer.

What is known

Cancer generally develops over several years and has many causes. Several factors both inside and outside the body, contribute to the development of cancer. Some of these factors include genetics, tobacco use, diet, weight, physical inactivity, and excessive sunlight exposure. Other factors include exposure to chemicals that may be present in food, air, or water such as asbestos, benzene, and arsenic.

What is known

Nobody is immune from getting cancer. Although scientific studies have identified specific factors which increase the risk for cancer, sometimes people without any risk factors still develop cancer and people with many risk factors do not develop cancer. The following list contains common cancer risk factors.

• Older age; the risk of developing cancer increases with age
• Race and ethnicity; people of certain races and ethnic background are at higher risk for certain types of cancer
• Tobacco use
• Certain environmental exposures
• Genetics and family history
• Certain medical conditions/diseases such as a weak immune system, diabetes, Crohn's disease, or human papillomavirus (HPV) infection

How to reduce the risk

There are many ways to reduce your risk for cancer. Following these guidelines will not only reduce your risk for cancer, but improve your general health as well:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly
• Do not smoke; if you already smoke, look for ways to quit
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation
• Receive proper immunizations; certain infectious diseases like the human papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis B and C could lead to cancer later in life
• Protect your skin from the sun; wear proper sun-protection clothing and use plenty of sunscreen when you are outside
• Limit your exposure to environmental risk factors, such as asbestos, radon, arsenic, and benzene
• Get regular medical check-ups, including cancer screening tests like mammography, Pap test, and colonoscopy. Early detection of cancer significantly improves the chances of a complete recovery.

How it's tracked

Cancer data come from several sources:

• Screening: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) monitors the use of preventive screening for a variety of cancer types such as mammography to detect breast cancer, Pap tests for cervical cancer, colonoscopy for colorectal cancer, and PSA tests for prostate cancer.
• Incidence, stage at diagnosis, and survivorship: State cancer registries collect detailed information about cancer patients and the treatments they receive, which makes the monitoring of trends in incidence and mortality as well as the evaluation of prevention and control measures possible.
• Mortality: Death certificates are a fundamental source of demographic, geographic, and cause-of-death information. They make it possible to track every death in the nation due to cancer. Deaths are reported as being due to cancer when the cancer was the underlying cause of death.