Can cancer be prevented?
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Not all cancers can be prevented but there are things you can do to reduce your risk.
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These include not smoking, keeping a healthy weight and staying safe in the sun.
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The world around us can make it harder to be healthy, and this can affect some people more than others. We need the government to help make it easier for us all.
How can making healthy changes reduce my cancer risk?
Research has shown that things like stopping smoking, keeping a healthy weight, staying safe in the sun, cutting down on alcohol and eating a healthy, balanced diet can reduce the risk of cancer.
By making healthy changes now, you can make a difference to your health in the future. And it's never too late to start making healthy changes.
Use this page to explore six things that are proven to reduce cancer risk.
And remember, you can talk to your doctor if you’re worried about your cancer risk.
Can I make sure I don’t get cancer?
There are no guarantees when it comes to cancer, but making healthy changes does help reduce your risk.
A person's risk of cancer depends on many different things. This includes things we can't change, like getting older and our genetics. As well as exposure to cancer risk factors.
The world around us also affects how healthy we are, like whether we can access healthier food options or have opportunities for exercising. There are things we can do to help us form healthy habits. But we also need the government to help make it easier for everyone to be healthy.
Stop smoking
Not smoking is the best thing you can do to reduce your risk of cancer, as smoking is the biggest cause of cancer. Harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the cells in our body. If you smoke, stopping completely is the best thing you can do for your health and there are many tools to help you quit.
Keep a healthy weight
Being a healthy weight has lots of health benefits, including reducing the risk of at least 13 different types of cancer. But the world around us can make this difficult, which is why the government needs to help too.
Enjoy the sun safely
Being safe in the sun reduces the risk of skin cancer. Too much UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds damages our skin cells. When the sun is strong, protect your skin by spending time in the shade, covering up with clothing, and applying sunscreen regularly and generously.
Cut down on alcohol
Find out more about cutting down on alcohol
Have a healthy balanced diet
Having a healthy, balanced diet can help reduce your risk of cancer. Aim to have plenty of fruit and vegetables, foods high in fibre lie wholegrains, and healthy proteins. Cut down on processed and red meat, alcohol and high calorie foods and drinks.
The HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine helps to prevent cancer by protecting against human papillomavrius (HPV). HPV increases the risk of some types of cancer and causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is offered for free to children aged 11-13, and some other groups.
How does cancer start?
DNA is a set of instructions inside our cells that tells them how to behave. Cancer is caused by damage to our DNA that has built up over time.
Things like smoking, too much UV radiation and drinking alcohol can cause damage to our cells, which can lead to cancer.
Last reviewed: 19 April 2022
Next review due: 19 April 2025
This page is currently under review.
