Many people who are diagnosed with cancer have none of the known risk factors associated with the disease. However, according to the American Cancer Society, the majority of cancers that strike Americans are related to lifestyle choices, such as tobacco use or sun exposure.

Clearly, reducing your risk factors for this potentially deadly disease improves your health and quality of life, and reduces your health care costs immeasurably.

The following suggestions can help you have a healthier medical and financial profile.

Controllable Factors
Of the many factors that increase cancer risk, only two of the significant causes—growing older and having a family history of cancer—cannot be changed. That leaves the following risk factors largely within your control.

• Tobacco use. More than 180,000 Americans die of cancer related to tobacco use every year. Using tobacco products yourself or regularly being exposed to tobacco smoke increases the risk for several cancers.

  Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop cancer of the lung, larynx, mouth, esophagus, bladder, kidney, throat, stomach, pancreas, or cervix. They also are more likely to develop leukemia. People who use smokeless or chewing tobacco are at increased risk for cancer of the mouth.

• Sunlight and tanning booth exposure. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation comes from the sun and tanning booths. It causes skin damage that can lead to skin cancer.

  To reduce your risk, avoid the midday sun whenever possible and protect yourself from UV radiation reflected by sand, water, and snow. You can do so by covering your skin and head and using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15. You also should avoid tanning booths.

• Excessive alcohol use. Women who routinely have more than one alcoholic drink a day and men who have more than two have an increased risk of developing cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, liver, and breast.
• A poor diet. Studies suggest people whose diet is high in fat have an increased risk for colorectal, uterine, and prostate cancer. The best diet to protect against cancer includes five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
• Physical inactivity and obesity. Not exercising and being overweight are risk factors for breast, colorectal, esophageal, kidney, and uterine cancer. Adults should strive to be physically active for at least 30 minutes on most days.

Lifestyle decisions you make every day can reduce your cancer risk.

For more information, visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

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