Oral Cancer Prevention (PDQ®): Prevention - Patient Information [NCI]-What is prevention?
Oral Cancer Prevention (PDQ®): Prevention - Patient Information [NCI]-What is prevention?
Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the number of deaths caused by cancer.
To prevent new cancers from starting, scientists look at risk factors and protective factors. Anything that increases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer risk factor; anything that decreases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer protective factor.
Overview
This complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) information summary provides an overview of the use of Cannabis and its components as a treatment for people with cancer -related symptoms caused by the disease itself or its treatment.This summary contains the following key information: Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. By federal law, the possession of Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is illegal in the United States; however, a growing number of states...
Read the Overview article > >
Some risk factors for cancer can be avoided, but many cannot. For example, both smoking and inheriting certain genes are risk factors for some types of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Regular exercise and a healthy diet may be protective factors for some types of cancer. Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may lower your risk but it does not mean that you will not get cancer.
Different ways to prevent cancer are being studied, including:
See the following PDQ summaries for information about screening, diagnosis, and treatment of oral cancer:
To prevent new cancers from starting, scientists look at risk factors and protective factors. Anything that increases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer risk factor; anything that decreases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer protective factor.
Recommended Related to Cancer
Overview
This complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) information summary provides an overview of the use of Cannabis and its components as a treatment for people with cancer -related symptoms caused by the disease itself or its treatment.This summary contains the following key information: Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. By federal law, the possession of Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is illegal in the United States; however, a growing number of states...
Read the Overview article > >
Some risk factors for cancer can be avoided, but many cannot. For example, both smoking and inheriting certain genes are risk factors for some types of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Regular exercise and a healthy diet may be protective factors for some types of cancer. Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may lower your risk but it does not mean that you will not get cancer.
Different ways to prevent cancer are being studied, including:
- Changing lifestyle or eating habits.
- Avoiding things known to cause cancer.
- Taking medicines to treat a precancerous condition or to keep cancer from starting.
See the following PDQ summaries for information about screening, diagnosis, and treatment of oral cancer:
- Oral Cancer Screening
- Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment
- Oropharyngeal Cancer Treatment
- Cigarette Smoking: Health Risks and How to Quit