Cancer Prevention And Early Detection - NCI

Behavioral Factors
• Smoking causes about 30 percent of all U.S. deaths from cancer. Avoiding
tobacco use is the single most important step Americans can take to reduce the
cancer burden in this country.
• Obesity and physical inactivity cause about 25 to 30 percent of several of the
major cancers in the U.S., including colon, breast, endometrial, kidney, and
esophageal cancers. Obesity is estimated to cause 14 percent of cancer deaths
in men and 20 percent of cancer deaths in women.
• Additional important steps include maintaining a healthy weight, being physically
active, eating a moderate-fat diet and enough fruits and vegetables, balancing
calories with physical activity, avoiding too much alcohol, and protecting skin
from sunlight.