Causes of cancer and reducing your risk

Many cases of cancer in the UK could be prevented through healthy changes.

Get the facts on common cancer myths and frequently asked questions about cancer risk.

If you smoke, stopping is the best thing you can do for your health and to reduce your cancer risk.

Keeping a healthy weight reduces the risk of 13 different types of cancer.

Staying safe in the sun and avoiding sunbeds reduces the risk of melanoma skin cancer.

The less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk of cancer.

Eating a healthy balanced diet can help reduce your risk of cancer.

Being more active can help you keep a healthy weight and reduce the risk of cancer.

You can’t catch cancer, but some infections such as HPV can increase your risk.

Air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer, but in the UK the risk is relatively small.

Changes in our hormone levels can affect the risk of cancer.

Some jobs can affect people’s risk of cancer.

Cancer is more common as we age.

Some inherited faulty genes can increase your risk of cancer.

Find out how to reduce your risk of cancer with our health quiz.