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Some risk factors for cancer are modifiable, meaning they are things you can change. Modifiable risks for cancer include smoking and using tobacco products, being obese or overweight, not eating a healthy diet or using a tanning bed.

Some risk factors for cancer you cannot change, such as your family history; these are called unmodifiable risk factors. Some risk factors increase the likelihood of one type of cancer, while others can increase the risk of several types.

A tool like Oncolink’s “What’s My Risk” is designed to identify your personal risk factors, both modifiable and unmodifiable, and help you focus on those you can change, providing resources and tips to make those changes.

Lifestyle Changes that Decrease Cancer Risk

Regardless of your personal risk, age, gender and race, there are some modifiable risks - risks that increase as a result of lifestyle - you can change or modify today to help prevent cancer.

• Stop smoking or use tobacco. Need help quitting? Learn about Penn Medicine's Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program.
• Use sunscreen. Stay sun safe with these tips.
• Do not use tanning booths.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity has been linked to an increased risk for cancer.
• Do not drink alcohol, or limit alcohol use.
• Limit sexual partners. The sexually transmitted disease, HPV, has been shown to increase risk for head and neck cancer, as well as cervical cancer.  

February is Cancer Prevention Month, and this month we are featuring blogs all about cancer prevention. "Like" the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania on Facebook to get cancer prevention tips, cancer education and cancer research news throughout the whole year.

February is Cancer Prevention Awareness Month. Here at the Abramson Cancer Center, we are committed to providing outstanding comprehensive cancer care and cancer information including ways to prevent cancer. Further, cancer researchers at Penn are at the forefront of learning new ways to prevent and detect cancer. 

Exercise and maintaining a healthy weight is one way a person can decrease their risk of cancer and aid in the prevention of chronic disease.

A person’s risk for developing cancer is based on several risk factors for cancer. However, just because someone has one or more risk factors for cancer does not mean they will develop cancer.

Exercise, Prevention of Chronic Disease Including Cancer

While cancer research has come a long way to help identify ways in which people can prevent certain types of cancer, cancer researchers are still looking for new, effective cancer prevention strategies.Obesity, or being overweight has been shown to increase cancer risk. Cancer researchers at Penn Medicine are testing to see if women who are at higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetimes may be able to reduce their risk with exercise.

Research has already proven that female athletes have reduced estrogen levels as a result of exercise. There is also evidence that lower estrogen levels can reduce breast cancer risk over a woman’s lifetime. The hypothesis of the study is that if estrogen levels can be reduced through exercise, the risk of a future breast cancer diagnosis may be lower as well.

February is Cancer Prevention Month, and this month we are featuring blogs all about cancer prevention. "Like" the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania on Facebook to get cancer prevention tips, cancer education and cancer research news throughout the whole year.

February is Cancer Prevention Awareness Month. Here at the Abramson Cancer Center, we are committed to providing outstanding comprehensive cancer care and cancer information including ways to prevent cancer. Further, cancer researchers at Penn are at the forefront of learning new ways to prevent and detect cancer.

In this article, we discuss mammograms. And how a new type of mammogram offered at Penn may improve accuracy.

The mammogram remains the most important screening device in the detection of breast cancer and it likely saves thousands of lives every year.

Beginning at the age of 40, all women should have an annual mammogram to check for breast cancer. Depending on a woman’s personal risk, her physician may recommend she begin annual mammograms before the age of 40.

A revolutionary way to perform mammograms combining traditional mammography with 3D technology, called digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), allows for more accurate pictures of breast health.

Like traditional mammogram, the breast is compressed for about four to five seconds while a series of low-dose X-rays are taken to capture high-resolution images of the breast. These images are then digitally “stacked” to construct a total 3D image of the breast. This 3D image allows radiologists to scroll through, and “peel apart” the layers of the breast to view the breast tissue at different depths and angles. Radiologists can also magnify images to reveal minute details.

Women who get their mammograms using the new DBT technology may find they are called less often for follow-up visits and more tests.

Learn more about DBT at Penn, and how you can schedule your DBT mammogram at Penn.

February is Cancer Prevention Awareness Month. Here at the Abramson Cancer Center, we are committed to providing outstanding comprehensive cancer care and cancer information including ways to prevent cancer. Further, cancer researchers at Penn are at the forefront of learning new ways to prevent and detect cancer.

In this article, we discuss breast cancer, mutation of genes, specifically, the BRCA mutation, and how knowing your own BRCA status could impact the health care decisions you make in the future. 


BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand for breast cancer 1 and breast cancer 2. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are present in all individuals. Everyone has two copies of each of these genes - one from each parent.

Mutations of genes are like spelling errors in the genetic code of a gene. Those who have a gene mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA 2 gene are at higher than average risk for developing certain cancers.

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for the repair of certain types of DNA errors that may occur each time a human cell makes a copy of itself. Without a gene mutation, functional BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes help ensure the stability of cell's genetic material, or DNA, and help prevent uncontrolled cell growth. BRCA1 and BRCA2 can be genes causing cancer if they have a gene mutation.

Having mutations of genes, or an inherited gene mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 does not mean a person is guaranteed to develop cancer, but the chances are significantly higher than for someone who does not have a gene mutation.

The lifetime risk of developing certain types of cancer is greatly increased for women and men who inherit a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

Women and men who test positive for a BRCA gene mutation may refer to themselves as “previvors.”

A previvor is a survivor of a predisposition to cancer. Previvors have unique needs from people with cancer such as active surveillance and screening tests and often need to make treatment decisions based on their risk for inherited cancer.

Increasingly, women at high risk for breast cancer are choosing prophylactic mastectomy to greatly reduce their chance of getting breast cancer. While prophylactic mastectomy stories often make the front page, many women at increased risk for breast cancer choose other methods of managing their risk like enhanced breast cancer screening or risk-reducing medications. Jessica Long, CGC, a genetic counselor at Penn’s Basser Research Center for BRCA explains that “this is generally a very personal decision for each woman, even within the same family.”

Men and women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation may:

• Choose to start screening for breast cancer at age 25
• Receive specialized breast screening that includes regular mammography and breast MRI
• Participate in screening studies that offer cutting-edge technologies
• Be screened for ovarian cancer
• May choose to have ovaries or healthy breast tissue removed to reduce risk of developing cancer
• Also be candidates for other specialized types of enhanced screening
• Receive personalized medical recommendations for overall health

Mutations of Genes, and Cancer Research at Penn

The Basser Research Center for BRCA supports research on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, harmful forms of which are linked to greatly increased risks of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The Center is named in honor of Mindy Gray’s sister, Faith Basser, who died of ovarian cancer at age 44.

The Basser Research Center was established with a $25 million gift to the University of Pennsylvania from alumni Mindy and Jon Gray.

Emphasizing outreach, prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship, the Basser Research Center will contribute to all stages of research and clinical care relevant to BRCA-related cancers.

Learn more about the Basser Research Center.

February is Cancer Prevention Awareness Month. Here at the Abramson Cancer Center, we are committed to providing outstanding comprehensive cancer care and cancer information including ways to prevent cancer. Further, cancer researchers at Penn are at the forefront of learning new ways to prevent and detect cancer.

In this article, we discuss obesity, and how weight increases cancer risk, specifically, being obese. 

It’s no secret that more and more Americans are suffering from being overweight and obese. Perhaps it’s most evident in children, where it is estimated between 16 and 33 percent of adolescents are obese.

How Weight Increases Cancer Risk

Obesity is associated with increased risks of these types of cancers:

• Esophagus
• Breast (postmenopausal)
• Endometrium (the lining of the uterus)
• Colon and rectum
• Kidney
• Pancreas
• Thyroid
• Gallbladder

Also, obesity increases a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke high blood pressure, diabetes, and a number of other chronic diseases.

Several possible mechanisms have been suggested to explain the association of obesity with increased risk of certain cancers:

• Fat tissue produces excess amounts of estrogen, high levels of which have been associated with the risk of breast, endometrial, and some other cancers.
• Obese people often have increased levels of insulin, a condition known as hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance, which may promote the development of certain tumors.
• Fat cells produce hormones, called adipokines that may stimulate or inhibit cell growth.
• Fat cells may also have direct and indirect effects on other tumor growth regulators.
• Obese people often have chronic low-level, or “subacute,” inflammation, which has been associated with increased cancer risk.

Other possible mechanisms include altered immune responses.

According to the National Cancer Institute:

A projection of the future health and economic burden of obesity in 2030 estimated that continuation of existing trends in obesity will lead to about 500,000 additional cases of cancer in the United States by 2030. This analysis also found that if every adult reduced their BMI by 1 percent, which would be equivalent to a weight loss of roughly 1 kg (or 2.2 lbs) for an adult of average weight, this would prevent the increase in the number of cancer cases and actually result in the avoidance of about 100,000 new cases of cancer.

Lose Weight to Lower Cancer Risk

Maintaining a healthy weight (a weight that falls within a BMI of 18.5-24.5) ranks at the top of the American Institute of Cancer Research’s recommendations for cancer prevention.

The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) has been collecting data for more than a decade from people who have lost weight and have been able to maintain their weight loss.

They are sharing with us the top six trends that have come out of their surveillance. Nearly 90 percent of the members surveyed by NWCR reported they combined diet and exercise  to lose weight. So dig out your sneakers and get ready to move!

• Exercise. More than 50 percent of NWCR members reported expending 2000 calories a week. Check out AICR’s website for some suggestions of how you burn those calories too.
• Limit TV. Nearly two-thirds of NWCR members reported watching less than 10 hours of TV a week.
• Eat a low-calorie, low-fat diet. NWCR members maintain a similar diet 365 days a year Try filling half your plate with non-starchy fruits and vegetables that pack cancer fighting properties like spinach, broccoli, cucumbers, berries, grapes or melon.
• Eat breakfast. People surveyed said eating breakfast helped curb hunger and grouchiness as well as curb overeating later in the day
• Eat when hungry. Successful dieters from the NWCR maintained their weight loss by eating when they are hungry, not because the cake looked good or because they didn’t want to offend someone by not eating their dish. They also avoid the vending machine because when they are bored or stressed.
• Self monitor. And while you are looking for your sneakers, keep your eye out for your scale and smartphone. More than half of these successful dieters continue to weigh themselves weekly and keep a food journal. There are plenty of free websites and phone apps where you can log the calories you consumed and calories you burned each day.

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States. There are over 100 types of HPV, with more than 40 able to affect the genital area (CDC.gov). Nearly 20 million people in the United States are infected, and about 6.2 million more become infected each year with more than 50 percent of sexually active men and women infected with HPV at some time in their lives.
Most HPV infections do not cause any symptoms, and go away on their own. However, HPV can cause cervical cancer in women. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2011 alone, 12,710 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed with 4,290 deaths from the disease.  It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world.

HPV can cause genital warts and warts in the oral and upper respiratory tract in both men and women. HPV is also associated with several less common types of cancer in both men and women. There is no treatment for an HPV infection, but many of the conditions it causes can be treated.

The HPV Vaccine

There are 2 FDA approved HPV vaccines on the market; Gardasil and Cervarix. The HPV vaccine Gardasil, protects against four major types of HPV; HPV 16 and 18, the two types that cause about 70 percent of cervical cancer and HPV 6 and 11 which cause 90 percent of genital warts. Cervarix is protective against HPV 16 and 18.

Protection from the HPV vaccine is expected to be long lasting, but vaccinated women still need cervical cancer screening (such as Pap tests and HPV tests) because the vaccine does not protect against all HPV types that can cause cervical cancer.

The HPV Vaccine and Cancer Prevention

The HPV vaccine is approved for girls and boys ages 9-26.  Only Gardasil has been approved for use in males.

The CDC recommends that all girls aged 11 to 12 years old receive vaccination with either brand of HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer. (CDC) They also recommend that girls and young women ages 13 through 26 get the HPV vaccine if they have not received any or all doses when they were younger.

The CDC recommends Gardasil vaccine for all boys aged 11 or 12 years, and for males aged 13 through 21 years, who did not receive any or all of the recommended doses when they were younger. It is recommended that all men receive the vaccine through age 26. (CDC)

The vaccine is given in a three-dose series with the second dose given two months after the first dose and the third given six months after the first dose.

Why is the HPV vaccine given at this age?

It is important for girls and boys to receive the HPV vaccine before their first sexual contact — when they have not been exposed to HPV. For these girls and boys, the vaccine can prevent almost 100 percent of diseases caused by the four types of HPV targeted by the vaccine. However, if a girl or boy is already infected with a type of HPV, the vaccine does not prevent disease from that type of the virus and will not cure a current HPV infection.

Catch–up HPV vaccinations

The vaccine is also recommended for those between the ages of 13 and 26 who did not receive it when they were younger. No booster doses are recommended at this time. The HPV vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Who should not get the HPV vaccine?

Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to yeast, latex, to any other component of the HPV vaccine, or to a previous dose of the HPV vaccine should not get the vaccine. People with severe allergies should tell their doctor before receiving the vaccine.

Pregnant women should not get the vaccine. The vaccine appears to be safe for both the mother and the unborn baby, but it is still being studied. Receiving the HPV vaccine when pregnant is not a reason to consider terminating the pregnancy. Women who are breastfeeding may safely get the vaccine.

People who are mildly ill when the shot is scheduled can still get the HPV vaccine. People with moderate or severe illnesses should wait until they recover

What are the risks of the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine does not appear to cause any serious side effects. However, vaccines, like any medication, may cause problems such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of any vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. If side effects do occur, they happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

Mild problems that may occur with the HPV vaccine:

• Pain at the injection site (eight of 10 people)
• Redness or swelling at the injection site (one in four people)
• Mild fever (100 degrees F) (one person in 10)
• Itching at the injection site (one person in 30)
• Moderate fever (102 degrees F) (one person in 65)
• These symptoms do not last long and go away on their own.

These are just some of the side effects that may occur. It's best to speak with your physician about side effects from the HPV vaccine.

What to do for severe reaction to the HPV vaccine

Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes could indicate a severe reaction. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat or dizziness.

If you believe you or your child is having a severe reaction to the HPV vaccine, call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away. Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened and when the vaccination was given.

Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to report the reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form or you can file this report through the VAERS website or by calling 1-800-822-7967.

Learn more about the HPV vaccine

Ask your doctor or nurse. They can show you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.

Call your local or state health department.

Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Call 800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO).

Visit the CDC’s website http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv.

Learn more about cervical cancer and other gynecologic cancers at the Abramson Cancer Center’s Focus On Gynecologic Cancers Conference.

Learn more about cervical cancer treatment at the Abramson Cancer Center.

Penn's Abramson Cancer Center and Free to Breathe Philadelphia are teaming up to provide a free day-long lung cancer education conference highlighting prevention, diagnosis, treatment, genetics and life after lung cancer treatment.

Attendees will receive up-to-date information on the latest laboratory research, treatment advances, clinical trials, and survivorship issues.

There are two different sessions for the day, including Focus On Lung Cancer Conference and CANPrevent Lung Cancer Conference. Each session can help those at risk, newly diagnosed or who have survived lung cancer for a long time, find support, answers and possible alternatives to current treatment.

7th Focus On Lung Cancer Conference

Date: Friday, October 17, 2014
Time:  7:30 am to 2:00 pm
Location: Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Looking for information from medical professionals? Learn from expert panels about lung cancer prevention, risk, and quitting smoking.

RSVP for the Focus on Lung Cancer Conference here.

3rd CANPrevent Lung Cancer Conference

Date: Friday, October 17, 2014
Time: 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
Location: Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia PA
Are you or a loved one newly touched by lung cancer? Join us for risk assessment, new diagnostics and procedures, surgical advances, information on proton therapy and more.

RSVP the for CANPrevent Lung Cancer Conference here.

Can’t Make the Conference? 

If you can’t make this year’s conference, you can watch or follow the conference live:

• View the Focus On conference live stream online (not active until the day of the events)
• Join @PennCancer on Twitter with the hashtag #LungCancerACC to follow the day’s topics and discussions.
• Join the 9th Annual Free to Breath Run/Walk November 2, 2014