Reduce your children's risk of getting many types of cancer later in lifee. Start by helping them adopt a healthy lifestyle with good eating habits and plenty of exercise to keep a healthy weight. Then follow the tips below to help prevent spesific types of cancer.Sun Safety : The Key to Skin Cancer Prevention
Most skin cancers can be prevented if children and teens (and adults, too) are protected from ultraviolet(UV) rays.
Just a few serious sunburns can increase your child's risk of skin cancer later in life. Kids don't have to be at the beach to get too much sun.
Their skin needs protection from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays whenerver they're outdoors.
To protect yourself and your family
- Seek shade, especially during midday hours.
- Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin.
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
- Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
- Put on sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection
The ultraviolet rays from tanning beds and sunlamps are as dangerous as the ultraviolet rays from the sun. Don't let your children or teens use them. Many states restrict the use of tanning beds by children and teens.
A Vaccine to Prevent Cervical Cancer
Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that can be passed from one person to another during sex, is the main cause of cervical cancer. The same virus also causes many vaginal and vulvar cancers.
A vaccine to prevent HPV infections is available. It protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cancer. It is given in a series of three shots. The vaccine is recommended for girl 11 and 12 years gold, and for girls anwomen 13 to 26 years old who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. (girls as young as age 9 can get the vaccine).
Major Causes of Lung Cancer
Smoking. Tobacco use is the major cause of lung cancer in the Unites States. The best way to prevent lung cancer is not to start smoking, or quit if you do smoke. It is important to p
revent adolescents from starting to smoke.In 2007, half of high school students reported that they had at least tried smoking. One in five high school students was a current smoker.
Talk to your children about why you don't want them to smoke.
Secondhand smoke. Smoke from other people's cigarettes ("secondhand" smoke)can use lung cancer. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke for nosmokers. Don't expose your childreen to secondhand tobacco smoke.
In your own home, establish a smoke-free policy.
