February is National Cancer Prevention Month

Join the American Association for Cancer Research in supporting research to prevent cancer.

The federal government estimates that 2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) during 2024, and that more than 600,000 died from their disease. Research shows that more than 40% of these cases and nearly half of the deaths can be attributed to preventable causes—smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and excessive exposure to the sun, among others.

This means that steps such as quitting smoking (or never starting in the first place), maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, protecting your skin from the sun, and getting vaccinated against the pathogens that cause certain cancers can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer in many cases.

Get more information about cancer prevention in the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024, including facts about how modifying behaviors can impact cancer occurrence and outcomes. And take our Cancer Prevention Quiz to test your knowledge and learn more about cancer risk reduction.

In the United States, many of the greatest reductions in cancer morbidity and mortality have been achieved through the implementation of effective public education and policy initiatives. 

For example, nationwide initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco use have led to declines in smoking from 42.4% of U.S. adults in 1965 to 11.5% in 2021. Still, nearly 20% of all cancer cases and 30% of cancer-related deaths are caused by smoking cigarettes, including 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths. 

But certain segments of the U.S. population have a disproportionately higher burden of preventable cancer risk factors. Learn more about the racial and ethnic minorities and other medically underserved people who are at higher risk in the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024. 

It’s imperative that we implement effective, evidence-based practices that reduce modifiable cancer risk factors for everyone.  

More on cancer prevention

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can prevent HPV, a risk factor for developing anal, cervical, and four other cancers. Yet many young people who have already had cancer choose not to get the HPV vaccine. Why? Read more in Cancer Today magazine: The HPV Vaccine Prevents Cancer. Why Do Many Cancer Survivors Not Get It?

Scientists are investigating new ways to prevent breast cancer, with clinical trials involving vaccines, personalized doses of tamoxifen, and targeted inhibition of the cells that give rise to breast cancer. These and other promising new avenues of research are discussed in the AACR blog, Cancer Research Catalyst.

A lack of awareness regarding the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) used to screen for colorectal cancer, the HIV vaccine, and whole-exome sequencing is leading to some groups failing to benefit from these cancer screening and prevention methods. Learn more on Cancer Research Catalyst.   

what the aacr is doing in the area of cancer prevention

The AACR is committed to advancing the science of cancer prevention. The AACR Cancer Prevention Working Group provides a forum for communication and collaboration among basic, translational, and clinical scientists, physicians, and nurses, as well as medical or surgical oncologists in academia, industry, and government.

Our 10 peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention and Cancer Prevention Research, feature leading-edge research in the field.

With its funding partners, the AACR makes grants available to scientists studying prevention of a variety of cancers.  These include:

  • Meng Wang, MD, PhD; 2024 Fanconi Cancer Foundation-AACR NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research; “Cancer prevention in Fanconi anemia through alleviating formaldehyde genotoxicity.”
  • Zuen Ren, MD, PhD; AACR-Pfizer Breast Cancer Research Fellowship; “Exploring damaged progenitors as targets for breast cancer prevention.”
  • Chemtai Mungo, MD, MPH, FACOG; 2022 Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in Partnership with Pelotonia and the AACR; “Feasibility of adjuvant topical therapy for cervical precancer treatment.”