Cancer screenings: Why they matter

February is National Cancer Prevention Month, a great time to talk about the importance of early detection. Some scientists estimate that up to 40 percent of all cancers are preventable.

While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent cancer, you can reduce your risk by making healthy choices — such as eating a healthy diet, staying active and not smoking, according to the American Cancer Society.

It’s also important to follow recommended screening guidelines based on your age and risk factors. Cancer screening tests — such as colonoscopies for colon cancer or mammograms for breast cancer — help doctors detect early signs of cancer.

Read more about certain types of cancer and screening options below.

• Lung cancer: Should you get a lung cancer screening?
• Breast cancer: Mammograms 101
• Skin cancer: Learn the truth about skin cancer — five myths debunked
• Colon cancer: Colorectal cancer screening: Why you need it, what it’s like and how care has changed
• Cervical cancer: What you should know about the HPV vaccine
• Prostate cancer: Five things to know about prostate cancer

Learn more about cancer screening at MultiCare.