Luckily, these cancers are highly curable. The more dangerous skin cancer, melanoma, is expected to be diagnosed in more than 38,000 people this year. At highest risk are those with fair skin and hair and a high number of moles. Keep 'em covered. There's a suspected link between severe sunburns in childhood and an increased risk of melanoma later in life.
Obesity is a risk factor for several forms of cancer, including cancer of the breast and uterus.
Regular exercise can help you lose weight and lower your risk. A good way to start exercising is by taking brisk walks during your lunch break, riding your bike to the store or parking a few blocks away from the office. Get routine screenings. To help detect breast cancer in its early stages, women should have a baseline mammogram between ages 35 and 40, then a mammogram every one to two years from ages 40 to 50, and mammograms every year after age 50. Annual Pap tests are recommended for all women over 18 to catch cervical cancer.