	About Us		Patients, Families & Visitors		For Health Professionals		Careers		Research & Training		Ways to Give

Handheld

Contrast

London Regional Cancer Program

Prevention and Screening

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Ontario. In spite of many decades of treatment research, cancer continues to increase. To reduce cancer, both primary and secondary prevention strategies are necessary.

Primary prevention involves lifestyle and environmental changes.

Secondary prevention involves early detection and screening programs.

Major causes of cancer:

The joint Cancer Care Ontario/Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario division Cancer 2020 summary report identifies the following major causes if cancer:

Tobacco use
Diet, obesity and inactivity
Occupation and environment
Family history
Other factors include biological agents, reproductive factors, radiation & sunlight, alcohol, socio-economic class, drugs and food additives or contaminants

In 2001, the most frequently diagnosed cancer was breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men. Smoking continues to be the leading cause of cancer in both sexes.

The majority of cancers occur because of lifestyle or environmental factors. Fortunately, these factors can easily be changed! When we adopt new, healthy behaviours that focus on cancer-prevention, we lower our risk of cancer by up to 70%.

Cancer Prevention

Approximately 60-70% of cancers can be prevented through healthy lifestyle.

Adopt a cancer-prevention lifestyle:

Quit smoking -- Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals. At least 40 of those chemicals are highly toxic and are known to cause cancer. Second hand smoke also harms non-smokers who inhale the smoke.

Healthy eating -- Choose a variety of foods from the Canada Food Guide, including 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Most Canadians consume too much fat and too few fresh fruits and vegetables. High fat consumption is considered a risk factor for colon and possibly breast cancer.

Exercise regularly -- 15 minutes of exercise, 3 or more times per week. Inactivity, especially when combined with other risk factors such as smoking and poor diet, can increase the risk of developing cancer. Regular physical activity is important in the prevention of colon, breast, and other types of cancer.

Health Canada's information on Active Living talks about ways to benefit from physical activity.

Cancer Screening

Cancer Care Ontario offers three cancer screening programs that people can access. To learn more about these programs, click the link that interests you:

Breast Cancer Screening Program

Cervical Cancer Screening Program

Colorectal Cancer Screening Program

Sun exposure practices

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays that can harm your skin and eyes. Overexposure to the sun causes premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.

In order to protect your skin, listen to the weather forecast. The UV index predicts the strength of the sun's rays. The higher the index number, the stronger the sun. A low UV Index means it will take more than an hour to burn your skin; an extreme level means it will take less than 15 minutes.

Other steps you can take to protect yourself from the sun:

Reduce sun exposure between 11am and 4pm, when the sun's rays are strongest
Seek shade, or create your own
Wear loose cotton clothing with long sleeves to cover your arms and legs
Wear a wide-brimmed hat
Wear a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher
Do not use tanning beds or sun lamps: these sources also cause skin damage

Practice safer sex

A number of infections related to unprotected sex can lead to cancer.

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, and can lead to cancer of the cervix in women.

Hepatitis B can cause cancer of the liver, but can be prevented by vaccination. Hepatitis C, associated in many cases with injection drug use, can lead to liver cancer.

Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens the body's immune system and leaves people vulnerable to several forms of cancer.

Cancer Detection

Detection is finding cancer early. When cancer is found early, it usually means simpler treatment, a faster recovery and a higher chance of being cured.