Who's at Risk for Cancer?

Everyone has some risk for cancer. In the United States, cancer is likely to affect 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women at least once in their lifetime. The amount of risk you have depends on a number of factors. These factors include tobacco use, lifestyle choices (such as diet and exercise), family history and factors in your workplace and environment.

How Can I Keep From Getting Cancer?

Unfortunately, some risk factors for cancer (such as family history) are out of your control. But you can control some of the important risk factors for most types of cancer, such as your diet, exercise habits, your exposure to sunlight or tanning beds and whether you are overweight or use tobacco products.

Seeing your doctor regularly can also help. Depending on your age and medical history, your doctor will probably run tests (called "screenings") to try to detect the early signs of certain cancers. For most types of cancer, the sooner the cancer is found and treatment begins, the better your chances of recovering.