Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Cancer
Quick Links
 |  |  |
Why It's Important
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in New Jersey and the United States. Many cancers are preventable by reducing risk factors or getting appropriate vaccinations. Screening is effective in identifying some types of cancers in early, often highly treatable stages.1What Is Known
Multiple factors both inside and outside the body, can contribute to the development of cancer. Some risk factors for cancer can be avoided or controlled. For example, people can choose to avoid exposure to tobacco, modify their diet, and increase their exercise. Other risk factors, such as a person's age, race, family history of cancer, and genetics are not possible to modify.Who Is at Risk
Nobody is immune from getting cancer. Although scientific studies have identified specific factors which increase the risk for cancer, sometimes people without any risk factors still develop cancer and people with many risk factors do not develop cancer. The following list contains common cancer risk factors.- Older age; the risk of developing cancer increases with age
- Race and ethnicity; people of certain races and ethnic background are at higher risk for certain types of cancer
- Lifestyle factors; tobacco use, secondhand smoke, poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity, alcohol consumption, sun exposure
- Reproductive factors/hormones
- Genetics and family history
- Certain environmental/occupational exposures
- Certain medical conditions/infections/immunosuppression
How To Reduce Risk
There are many ways to reduce your risk for cancer. Following these guidelines will not only reduce your risk for cancer, but improve your general health as well:- Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Smoking is linked to several types of cancer -- not just lung cancer. Quitting now will reduce your risk of cancer in the future.
- Eat a healthy diet. Choose a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Select whole grains and lean proteins.
- Exercise most days of the week. Regular exercise is linked to a lower risk of cancer. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. If you haven't been exercising regularly, start out slowly and work your way up to 30 minutes or longer.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese may increase your risk of cancer. Work to achieve and maintain a healthy weight through a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure. Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can increase your risk of skin cancer. Limit your sun exposure by staying in the shade, wearing protective clothing, or applying sunscreen.
- Schedule cancer screening exams. Talk to your doctor about what types of cancer screening exams are best for you based on your risk factors.
- Ask your doctor about immunizations against diseases which increase your risk of cancer. Immunizations can help prevent hepatitis B, which increases the risk of liver cancer, and human papillomavirus (HPV), which increases the risk of cervical and other cancers.
How It's Tracked
- Screening: The New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NJBRFS) tracks the use of preventive screening for a variety of cancer types such as mammography to detect breast cancer, Pap tests for cervical cancer, colonoscopy for colorectal cancer, and PSA tests for prostate cancer.
- Incidence, stage at diagnosis, and survivorship: The NJ State Cancer Registry collects detailed information about cancer patients and the treatments they receive, which is used to track trends in incidence, survival, and mortality.
- Mortality: Death certificates are a fundamental source of demographic, geographic, and cause-of-death information.