How can I reduce my risk of cancer?
One in two people will develop cancer at some point in their life in the UK1. Although not all cancers can be prevented, you can lower your risk of some cancers by making changes to your lifestyle.
Try answering the questions below to learn more about how you could reduce your risk.
For each question, move the slider tool across to select your answer.
1 Cancer risk statistics. Cancer Research UK. cancerresearchuk.org, accessed 20 September 2022. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/risk
2 How does smoking cause cancer? Cancer Research UK. Cancerresearchuk.og, last reviewed 19 March 2021, accessed 18 August 2022. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/smoking-and-cancer/how-does-smoking-cause-cancer
3 BMJ Best Practice. Smoking cessation. Epidemiology. Bestpractice.bmj.com. Last updated 30 October 2018, last reviewed 12 August 2022. https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/411/epidemiology Accessed 12 September 2022.
4 Benefits of stopping smoking. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, nice.org.uk https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/smoking-cessation/background-information/benefits-of-stopping-smoking/ last revised September 2021
5 Body mass index – BMI. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/a-healthy-lifestyle---who-recommendations Accessed 12 September 2022
6 Obesity: identification, assessment and management. [CG189] Nice guidance. Nice.org.uk. Published 27 November 2014. Last updated 8 September 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg189
7 UK Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity Guidelines. Department of Health, gov.co.uk, published 7 September 2019. Last updated 16 February 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/physical-activity-guidelines
8 What are the benefits of exercise? Cancer Research UK. Cancerresearch.org. Last reviewed 15 January 2021. Accessed 19 August 2022. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/physical-activity-and-cancer/what-are-the-benefits-of-exercise
9UK low risk drinking guidelines. Drink Aware, drinkaware.co.uk. Last reviewed 30 June 2022. Accessed 18th August 2022. https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/alcoholic-drinks-and-units/low-risk-drinking-guidelines#weeklyguidelines
10 UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. Department of Health, gov.co.uk. Published August 2016. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/545937/UK_CMOs__report.pdf (PDf, 0.3MB)
11 Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention. Chapter 12: alcohol. Department of Health & Social Care. Gov.co.uk. Last updated 9 November 2021.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-prevention/chapter-12-alcohol
12Eatwell Guide. Public Health England. Gov.co.uk. Published 17 March 2016, last updated 25 September 2018. Accessed 18 August 2022 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/528193/Eatwell_guide_colour.pdf (PDF, 7.8MB)
13 Preventing excess weight gain. NICE guideline NG7. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Nice.org.uk. Published 13 March 2015. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng7/chapter/1-Recommendations#3-encourage-dietary-habits-that-reduce-the-risk-of-excess-energy-intake
14 Health matters: improving the prevention and diagnosis of bowel cancer. Public Health England. Gov.co.uk. Published 27 June 2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-preventing-bowel-cancer/health-matters-improving-the-prevention-and-detection-of-bowel-cancer
15 Does eating processed and red meat cause cancer? Cancer Research UK, cancerresearch.org. Accessed 18 August 2022. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/diet-and-cancer/does-eating-processed-and-red-meat-cause-cancer
16A Quick Guide to the Government’s Healthy Eating Recommendations. Public Health England. Gov.uk. Published September 2018. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/742746/A_quick_guide_to_govt_healthy_eating_update.pdf (PDF, 0.7MB)
17 Fibre: Food Fact Sheet. BDA The Association of UK Dietitians. Bda.uk.com. Last updated April 2021. Accessed 18 August 2022. https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/fibre.html
18 SACN Carbohydrates and Health Report. Published 17 July 2015. Gov.uk https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445503/SACN_Carbohydrates_and_Health.pdf (PDf, 2.4MB)
19 Wholegrains: Food Fact Sheet. BDA The Association of UK Dietitians. Bda.uk.com. Last updated April 2019. Accessed 18 August 2022. https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/wholegrains.html
20 How does the sun and UV cause cancer? Cancer Research UK, cancerresearch.org. Last reviewed 4 June 2021. Accessed 18 August 2022. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/sun-uv-and-cancer/how-does-the-sun-and-uv-cause-cancer
21 How to stay safe in the sun. British Skin Foundation. Britishskinfoundation.org.uk. Accessed 18 August 2022. https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/how-to-stay-safe-in-the-sun