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Preventing Cancer

Cancer includes over a hundred different diseases with many different causes.  Currently, in New Zealand about 16,000 people develop cancer each year and this number will increase as our population grows and ages.

Research from the World Health Organisation suggests that 50 – 80% of cancers are due to our environment or lifestyle and are therefore potentially preventable.  For some cancers the risk factors have been clearly identified, while for others further research is needed.  What we do know is that, based on current research, at least 30% of future cancers are preventable by action taken now.

Stack the odds in your favour  

The most significant risk factors for cancer are tobacco, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, obesity, alcohol and over exposure to the sun.  Reducing the incidence of cancer is one of the key activities of the Cancer Society Auckland and this is achieved through a variety of health promotion initiatives. 

Health promotion helps people improve their own health and increase control over it.  Activities include providing information to individuals, supporting communities to make changes, advocating to government for legislative changes, and promoting social marketing campaigns. Health promotion programmes focus on keeping people healthy.

Health promotion can involve individuals, small groups, communities or large populations. For example, in tobacco control, the Cancer Society has advocated for legislative changes, smokefree environments and quitting services.