February Is National Cancer Prevention Month

EPA Indoor Environments Division sent this bulletin at 02/01/2019 11:00 AM EST

Indoor Environments

During National Cancer Prevention Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) are working to inform Americans about how lifestyle can help reduce cancer risk and keep you healthy.

Research has shown that minimizing your exposure to radon and secondhand tobacco smoke can help reduce your risk of developing some types of cancer.

About 30,000 Americans or 20 percent of people who died from lung cancer in the United States in 2018 never smoked or used any form of tobacco. Researchers have made significant progress in understanding what causes lung cancer in people who have never smoked.

Cancer Prevention

A few simple changes can help reduce your risk—

  • Test your home for radon. Radon claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year; it is also the leading cause of lung cancer death among nonsmokers in the United States. If elevated levels are found, they can be reduced.
  • Make your home smoke-free, smoke outside or quit smoking.

Learn more about National Cancer Prevention Month from the AICR.

Article courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency

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