Education, Cancer

Lifestyle Factors

One critical aspect of cancer education is promoting primary prevention lifestyle practices that reduce cancer risk. Scientific research suggests that all cancers caused by tobacco smoking and abuse of alcohol could be prevented completely. In addition, eating a healthy diet, being physically active, managing stress, controlling environmental exposures to toxins (e.g., avoiding excessive sun exposure), and getting regular health checkups and screening examinations may reduce a person's risk or likelihood of getting cancer and other chronic diseases. As such, many cancer education efforts promote these preventative measures.

In addition to primary prevention practices as described preciously, cancer education also emphasizes secondary prevention measures such as screening examinations. Research has shown that screening examinations can help to detect cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, oral cavity, and skin at the early stages. Tumors of the colon and cervix can even be detected at the precancerous stages and are therefore preventable. For most cancers, early detection has been proven to reduce mortality because treatment is more likely to be successful. Unfortunately, national goals for screening have not been met for many of these cancers.

The gaps between recommended screening guidelines and actual practices point to not only the need for more education but also for increasing access to quality healthcare for all Americans. Unfortunately, communities who may be at greatest risk for cancer may also be the least likely to practice preventative measures and/or to have access to screening examinations and the best standard of care. Barriers to getting these screening procedures include the health-care system, as well as cultural and individual factors. Some communities simply lack access to accurate cancer information because cancer education efforts do not reach these communities or people do not find mainstream messages relevant to them.

Healthcare system factors may also render the cost of cancer screening exams prohibitive for many. Additionally, people from low-income backgrounds generally have to struggle with competing issues, such as food, shelter, safety, family needs, and employment, which may take precedence over their own health and well-being. Therefore, education efforts need to be paired with affordable and low-or no-cost cancer screening and treatment programs that target the cultural and socioecological contexts of particular underserved communities.

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