Prevention, Screening and Early Detection

Can cancer be prevented?

  • Scientific evidence suggests that about one-third of the cancer deaths each year are preventable. They are related to smoking, heavy alcohol use, radiation from the sun and from tanning lamps, nutrition, physical inactivity, being overweight, and other lifestyle factors.  Additionally, according to the World Health Organization, 30-50% of cancer cases are preventable.
  • Regular screening examinations by a health care professional can result in the detection of cancer of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, oral cavity, and skin at earlier stages when treatment is more likely to be successful. See the cancer screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society.
  • Certain cancers are related to infectious exposures and could be prevented through behavioral changes, vaccines, or antibiotics.

Where can I get screened?

      • Contact your local hospital
      • New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection Services (NJCEED)
      • The New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection Screening Program (NJCEED) is part of the New Jersey Department of Health. NJCEED provides comprehensive screening services for breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer. The services include education, outreach, early detection, case management, screening, tracking, and follow-up. Breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancers can be treated more effectively when found early. Persons eligible for these services must be at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level and be uninsured or under-insured. For more information, please call 1-800-328-3838.

How does your HMO rate on cancer screening?

How do you score in cancer prevention?

 

Last Reviewed: 4/21/2017