Some risk factors for cancer can’t be helped, including your age and your family history. But there is a lot you can do right now to protect yourself. Take charge of your health by making these lifestyle choices.

1. Stop smoking — or better yet, don’t start.

Choosing not to use tobacco is one of the most effective forms of cancer prevention.

And it’s not just lung cancer that’s preventable either. By not smoking you can also prevent the following types of cancer: 

• Bladder cancer
• Mouth cancer
• Oral cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Tongue cancer
• Throat cancer

2. Watch your alcohol consumption.

With alcohol, the main cancer mechanism is how it breaks down in our bodies. The ethanol in alcohol is metabolized through acetaldehyde, which is a poisonous byproduct and a known carcinogen.

3. Avoid UV exposure from the sun, tanning beds and other culprits.

Yet another lifestyle factor you can control that prevents cancer is limiting ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure. Whether it’s natural UV exposure from the sun or artificial UV exposure from tanning beds, both put you at risk for skin cancer. UV exposure causes gene mutations that can cause cancer. 

4. Watch Your Weight

Too much weight around your midsection increases your risk for several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, as well as for other diseases like diabetes and heart disease. You can check your Body Mass Index online to see if you are at a healthy weight. 

5. Know your family health history and get vaccinated

Talk to your health care professional about cancer screening. Some tests can help detect cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful, and some can also detect precancerous.

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