July 2025

The idea of getting cancer scares many people. After all, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. after heart disease.

Rather than feeling helpless, you can do some things now to prevent cancer or reduce your risk. Follow this advice from the National Cancer Institute (NCI):

1. Get vaccinated

Human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B are viral infections that can lead to cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV can trigger cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in women and cancer of the penis in men. In both women and men, it can trigger cancer of the anus or back of the throat, which is called oropharyngeal cancer.

Hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cancer, according to the National Library of Medicine.

A simple way to reduce your risk of HPV and Hep B is by getting vaccinated against these viruses. The CDC recommends two doses of HPV vaccine for kids starting at age 11 or 12. If you didn’t get the HPV series as a child, you can still get it until age 26. Because HPV exposure happens during sexual contact, you need to get vaccinated before becoming sexually active to protect yourself the most.

Hep B vaccines are part of early childhood vaccinations. The CDC also recommends Hep B vaccines as part of the adult immunization schedule. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you decide which vaccines are right for you and when to get them.

2. Treat infections

Hepatitis C is another infection that is a leading cause of liver cancer. There’s currently no vaccine to prevent Hep C infections. But some treatments can help cure Hep C infections. Without treatment, most people develop lifelong Hep C infections, according to the CDC.

Another curable infection that increases cancer risk is H. pylori, according to the NCI. It can increase your risk of stomach cancer.

H. pylori is a type of bacteria that spreads through eating contaminated food or water or engaging in direct mouth-to-mouth contact. If you have stomach problems, your doctor can detect H. pylori with a special breathing test. They can treat an infection with antibiotics.

3. Make lifestyle changes that lower your risk

Some risk factors for cancer — like age, sex, and family history — are out of your control. But others are within your control. Changing these things can lower your risk of cancer.

• Quit smoking: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, according to the NCI.
• Practice sun safety: According to the CDC, skin cancer is the most common cancer overall.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity increases the risk of several types of cancer, especially endometrial and esophageal cancer, according to the NCI.
• Avoid or limit alcohol: The CDC reports that alcohol may increase the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, colon, rectum, liver, and breasts. The American Cancer Society recommends avoiding alcohol or having no more than one drink per day for women or two per day for men.
• Avoid or limit red and processed meat: Both are linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer and possibly stomach, pancreatic, and prostate cancer.

4. Get screened for cancer

Cancer screening increases the chance that you’ll find cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer (for those at high risk), and colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer screening can help prevent colon and rectal cancers. That’s because, during a colonoscopy, doctors can remove growths, called polyps, before they turn into cancer.