Some cancers may be prevented by avoiding risk factors for cancer, such as tobacco use, diets too high in fat and too low in fiber, too little exercise, unsafe sex, and too much sun (or artificial sunlight, as from tanning booths).

Common risk behaviors and associated cancer types partially controllable by prevention
Risk Behaviors	Preventive Behaviors	Associated Cancer Type
Tobacco use	Do not use tobacco Avoid second hand tobacco smoke	Lung-bronchus
Unbalanced diet	Eat more fruits and vegetables	Colon-rectum
Sedentary lifestyle	Get regular moderate physical activity	Colon-rectum
Unsafe sex	Practice safer sex to reduce exposure to sexually transmitted diseases	Liver; Cervix
Ultraviolet Radiation	Avoid excessive sun exposure Do not use artificial tanning devices	Skin
Chronic Alcohol Use	Limit consumption of alcohol	Oral cavity

For more information on cancer prevention strategies, please refer to the Cancer Control Plan.

Web Resources:

Healthy Weight

Quit smoking!

Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, Check Your Cancer Risk

More about common Cancer Rates and Risks