By following these eight steps you can help reduce your risk of cancer, and there are many programs right here in Rockland County that can assist you!
1. Don’t smoke! and if you do smoke, make plans to quit.
- The best way to prevent lung cancer is to quit (or never start) smoking. The sooner you quit smoking the better. Even if you have been smoking for many years, it is never too late to benefit from quitting.
- For programs in Rockland County that can help you quit smoking, click here or call (845) 364-2651.
2. Stay at a healthy weight.
- Being overweight or obese raises your risk of many types of cancer and many other serious health problems. But losing even a few pounds can help reduce these risks!
- For more information about achieving and maintaining a healthy weight click here.
- For programs in Rockland County that can help you lose weight click here or call (845) 364-2500.
3. Eat right.
- One of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer and other serious diseases is to eat a healthy diet.
- For more information about eating right, visit the American Cancer Society web page "Eat Healthy" and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web page “Nutrition for Everyone.”
- For answers to common questions about diet and cancer click here.
- For programs in Rockland County that can help you eat right, click here.
4. Get moving!
- Being physically active for at least 30 minutes on five or more days each week can help you not only look and feel better, but it can also help reduce your risk of cancer and other serious diseases.
- For more information about being active, visit the American Cancer Society web page "Get Active" and the CDC web page “Physical Activity for Everyone.”
- For programs in Rockland County that can help you be more active click here.
5. If you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink.
- Studies suggest that men who have two alcoholic drinks per day and women who have one alcoholic drink per day greatly increase their risk factors for certain types of cancer.
- For more information about alcohol use and cancer click here.
6. Protect your skin from the sun.
- "Slip! Slop! Slap! … and Wrap" is a catch phrase from the American Cancer Society that reminds people of these 4 simple steps to help protect yourself from the effects of the sun: Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them from ultraviolet light.
- For more information about sun safety click here.
7. See your doctor for regular check-ups.
- Your doctor can help you make healthy lifestyle choices, as well as test you for health problems to catch them at an early stage, when they can be treated more easily.
- For more information visit the CDC’s webpage “Regular Check-Ups are Important.”
- For information about community health centers in Rockland County click here.
- You and your family may qualify for free or low-cost health insurance depending on your income and family size. For information click here.
8. Get screened for cancer.
- Talk to your doctor about your own cancer risk, which screening tests are right for you, when you should get them and about other steps you can take to protect yourself.
- For the American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer click here.
- For free breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening tests and follow-up services for uninsured or under-insured county residents who meet eligibility requirements, call the Rockland Cancer Services Partnership program at (845) 369-0742 Ext. 1.
- For information about cancer prevention and early detection and for referrals to cancer services, click here or call (845) 364-3857.