Cancer Prevention Action Week 2025 runs from the 17th-23rd February, and invites people to make healthy choices which become habits.
How does lifestyle affect my risk of cancer?
Although you can’t prevent yourself from getting cancer, there are ways that you can make cancer less likely – and easier to recover from if you are diagnosed.
Some cancers are particularly preventable. 63% of penile cancer cases in the UK could be prevented through simple lifestyle factors such as good genital hygiene.
For many other cancers, you can reduce your risk by making changes in your lifestyle. You don’t have to make extreme changes to your diet and lifestyle to help protect yourself – just a few small switches could benefit your health.
Weight
Trying to maintain a healthy weight is one of the most important ways that you can reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases.
If you’d like advice on reducing your weight in a healthy way, visit: Lose weight – Better Health – NHS
Physical activity
As well as helping to manage your weight, being more physically active can make you less likely to develop some forms of cancer. In the UK, the weekly physical activity guidelines for adults are at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (brisk walking swimming, or dancing) OR 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running, aerobics, fast swimming and fast cycling).
If you’re not sure where to start, programs like the Couch to 5k are a great way for beginners to become more active.
Diet
Eating a fibre-rich diet which is high in wholegrains can help you to maintain a healthy weight, which in turn can make you less likely to develop cancer.
Alcohol
Whilst the immediate effects of alcohol are obvious, we often don’t think about the long-term impact on our health. Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of being diagnosed with cancer. Alcoholic drinks are also very high in calories, which can make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
If you or someone you know is affected by prostate, testicular or penile cancer, our free patient and family support groups across Devon and Cornwall offer a space to connect with others who understand what you’re going through.
