Preventing Cancer
Cancer prevention means trying to avoid things that might cause cancer.
There are risk factors that you have control over. For example, the types of food you eat or the amount of exercise you get.
Learning more about preventing cancer can help you take action against cancer.
Did you know that between 30-50 percent of all cancer can be prevented (World Health Organization)? That means that the choices you make in your life can help you lower your risk of getting cancer.
Helpful Tools and Websites
| TOPIC | TOOLS | WEBSITES |
|---|---|---|
| Quitting Smoking | Cigarette Cost Calculator Smokers Helpline | Cancer Care Ontario - Benefits of Quitting Smoking Health Canada - Quitting Smoking |
| Eating Well | Canada's Food Guide Find a dietitian in Waterloo Wellington Region via the Dietitian Directory | Canadian Cancer Society - Eat Well |
| Sun Safety | Ways to protect your skin - Canadian Cancer Society | Canadian Cancer Society - Enjoy the Sun Safely |
| Physical Activity & Exercise | Canadian 24 hour Movement Guidelines Tips to Get Active - Public Health Agency of Canada | YMCA - Programs Kitchener Waterloo YMCA - Online Programs at Home |
My CancerIQ
Learn about your risk for cancer
My CancerIQ is a website that can help you find out your risk of getting a certain type of cancer. My CancerIQ won’t tell you whether you’ll get cancer or not. My CancerIQ can help you focus on specific changes you can make to lower your cancer risk and live a healthier life.
The website has a number of online assessment tools (like a quiz) that are for certain types of cancer like:
- Breast
- Cervical
- Colorectal (colon & rectum)
- Kidney
- Lung
- Melanoma
As you work through the assessments (quizzes), you’ll learn:
- What factors help to keep your risk of cancer down
- What factors raise your risk of getting cancer
- What you can do to manage or lower your risk (helpful tools)
- Learn whether you should be screened for particular types of cancer, such as colorectal, cervical and breast cancer. If screening is an option, your final report will link yos to screening resources in your community
How the assessment (quiz) works
- You will be asked questions about things that may affect your risk
- Your risk is based on studies of people age 40 and over who have no previous history of cancer. But everyone can benefit by learning more about their risk and getting a personal health action plan
- Save, print or email your results to yourself or share them with your healthcare team
- Your risk can change over time. Check back every so often to see whether there has been a change
- This assessment (quiz) will not diagnose cancer