Prevent cancer at every stage of life

It’s never too early (or too late) to protect yourself from cancer. Learn what to do at every age to lower your risk.

A woman standing in a kitchen with a counter full of fruits and vegetables

Cancer is scary to think about. It’s a serious disease.

But you can take steps — at any age — to lower your risk.

Many people will face cancer in their lifetime. That’s why you want to do everything you can to protect yourself.

From healthy habits to screenings, here’s what you can do to help lower your risk.

Teens and young adults

Healthy habits now can protect your body for years to come.

Eat healthy and stay active. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. They give you key nutrients that protect your cells from cancer. Stay active, too. Exercise is linked to a lower risk of many cancers.

Protect your skin. Skin cancer is common. And sun damage causes many cases. Cover your skin with hats and long sleeves. Always wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

Get the HPV vaccine. HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. It's a leading cause of cervical cancer. But a vaccine can help prevent infection. Kids can get the HPV vaccine starting at age 9. Experts recommend getting it at 11 to 12 years old. Ask your provider what’s right for your child.

Start cervical cancer screening. Ask your provider about when to get a Pap test or HPV test.

Don’t smoke. Smoking is one of the top causes of lung cancer. It’s best to never start smoking. But if you do, quitting now can lower your risk.

Middle age

Cancer happens most often in adults over age 50. This is a key time to protect yourself.

Know your risk level. Talk to your provider about family history and habits.

Start screenings. Which screenings you need and when to start them depends on your risk level. Talk with your provider about what screenings you should get.

Stay at a healthy weight. Extra body weight can raise your risk for many cancers. Exercise and healthy eating can help you reach a healthy weight.

Quit smoking. It’s one of the best things you can do at any age to protect your health.

Keep up with skin protection. It’s important at every age.

Older adults

Prevention still matters as you age.

Ask which screenings you still need. You may be able to stop some screenings at certain ages. Ask your provider what makes sense for you.

Keep up healthy habits. Exercise, healthy eating and skin protection can still help protect you.

Quit smoking. It’s never too late. Even if you’ve been a smoker for years, quitting can help your health at any age.

Key cancer screenings

Most adults have some risk for common cancers. That’s why experts recommend screenings for most people.

Screenings can’t prevent cancer in most cases. But they can find it early, before you feel sick. And finding cancer early raises the odds that you can beat it.

Breast cancer

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. It can help find breast cancer early.

When to get it: People ages 40 to 74 should get a mammogram every two years. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you may want to start earlier. Talk with your doctor about your risk.

Cervical cancer

Screening can help stop most cervical cancers. There are two kinds of screening tests:

A Pap test checks for cells that can turn into cancer.
An HPV test checks for the virus that can cause cervical cancer.

When to get it: People ages 21 to 65 should get a Pap test and/or HPV test every three to five years.

Colorectal cancer

Tests include at-home stool tests and colonoscopies. During a colonoscopy, your provider uses a small camera to look inside your colon.

When to get it: Most adults should start screening for colorectal cancer at age 45. Many people stop around age 75. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may want to start earlier. And you may need screenings more often.

How often depends on what kind of test you get. You can do an at-home stool test every one to three years. Or you can get a colonoscopy every 10 years (if results look normal). Ask your provider which test is right for you.

Lung cancer

People who smoke and former smokers have a higher risk of getting lung cancer.

When to get it: Ask your doctor about lung cancer screening if you are over 50 and:

You smoke now or you quit in the last 15 years.
Have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history. A “pack-year” means one pack of cigarettes a day for a year.