THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES THAT 2 MILLION AMERICANS WERE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER (OTHER THAN NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCER) DURING 2024, AND THAT MORE THAN 600,000 DIED FROM THEIR DISEASE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 40% OF THESE CASES AND NEARLY HALF OF THE DEATHS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO PREVENTABLE CAUSES—SMOKING, EXCESS BODY WEIGHT, PHYSICAL INACTIVITY, AND EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO THE SUN, AMONG OTHERS.

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This means that steps such as quitting smoking (or never starting in the first place), maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, protecting your skin from the sun, and getting vaccinated against the pathogens that cause certain cancers can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer in many cases.

Get more information about cancer prevention in the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024, including facts about how modifying behaviors can impact cancer occurrence and outcomes. And take our Cancer Prevention Quiz to test your knowledge and learn more about cancer risk reduction.

In the United States, many of the greatest reductions in cancer morbidity and mortality have been achieved through the implementation of effective public education and policy initiatives. 

For example, nationwide initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco use have led to declines in smoking from 42.4% of U.S. adults in 1965 to 11.5% in 2021. Still, nearly 20% of all cancer cases and 30% of cancer-related deaths are caused by smoking cigarettes, including 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths. 

But certain segments of the U.S. population have a disproportionately higher burden of preventable cancer risk factors. Learn more about the racial and ethnic minorities and other medically underserved people who are at higher risk in the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024. 

It’s imperative that we implement effective, evidence-based practices that reduce modifiable cancer risk factors for everyone.