Staying Healthy
What you can do

There are some risk factors you can control and others that you cannot. Making changes in the way you live, such as quitting smoking, staying active, and eating more fruits and vegetables, may lower your chances of getting certain cancers. Even small changes can make a difference. Make a plan to take better care of yourself. Here are some actions you can take:

• Talk to your doctor about cancer screening tests
  You can get cancer screening tests for many types of cancer. Screening tests for colon, breast, and cervical cancer have proven to be very effective. Screening tests may help find cancer early, when there is the best chance for a cure. Talk to your doctor about which screening tests he or she recommends. To learn more about screening for cancers, click here.

• Know your family health history
  Some cancers can run in families. Knowing your family health history will help you and your doctors make decisions about your lifestyle habits and your health care. To learn more about what scientists know about genetics and cancer, click here.

• Quit smoking
  Quitting smoking is the most effective thing you can do to reduce your risk of disease. Smokers who quit live longer than those who continue to smoke. In addition, the earlier smokers quit, the greater the health benefit. For more information about ways to help you quit smoking, click here.

• Stay active
  Getting regular physical activity has been linked to a lower risk of breast and colon cancer. Experts suggest that you try to be moderately active for at least 30 minutes for five or more days per week, or vigorously active for at least 20 minutes for three or more days per week. For more information about physical activity and cancer, click here.

• Stay at a healthy weight
  Staying active and eating a low fat diet can help you maintain a healthy weight. It’s important to maintain a healthy weight because being overweight and obese are risk factors for cancer and other conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. For more information about obesity as a risk factor for cancer, click here.

• Eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day
  Eating fruits and vegetables will increase your fiber intake and may decrease your calories. For more information about eating enough fruits and vegetables, click here. To check out the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, click here.

• Limit the time you’re in the sun
  Try to limit the time you spend in the sun during the hours from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you must be in the sun during these hours, use a sunscreen of 15 SPF or higher. Also wear protective clothing such as long pants, shirts with long sleeves, a hat, and sunglasses. For more information about skin cancer prevention, click here.