New York State Department of Health Recognizes Cancer Prevention Month
State Health Commissioner Urges New Yorkers to Take Cancer Prevention Steps
New York State Programs Provide Support for Cancer Prevention
Find a Nearby Cancer Screening Location Here
ALBANY, N.Y. (February 5, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes February as National Cancer Prevention Month and encourages New Yorkers to take steps to reduce their risk of cancer. New York State continues to offer preventative health care, research, and community programs.
"More than a third of all cancer cases are preventable if we take steps to quit smoking, adopt healthy eating and exercise habits, and consult with a health care provider about the risks," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "New York State offers free screening options and programs that can help you to take control of your health and prevent cancer or detect it early."
Cancer is one of the most common chronic diseases in New York State and is second only to heart disease as the leading cause of death. Each year, about 115,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with cancer. Almost 19,000 individuals die from a tobacco-related cancer each year, accounting for 56 percent of all cancer deaths in New York State, according to a recent report.
Cancer Prevention Month serves as a reminder for every New Yorker to take steps to reduce the risk of cancer. Research shows more than one third of cancers are preventable if the right measures are taken, including:
- Knowing one's genetics and family history.
- Getting help to quit smoking.
- Limiting alcohol consumption.
- Making healthy eating choices.
- Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.
- Limiting sun exposure.
- Testing your home for radon.
- Getting vaccinated for human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B.
- Getting screened for cancer and hepatitis C.
- Talking to a health care provider about the risks for cancer.
The Department has established, extensive programs and initiatives to help educate New Yorkers about cancer, as well as to provide support to individuals and families who are impacted by the disease. The Department remains committed to removing barriers to cancer screening and communicating the importance of routine screening.
The New York State Cancer Services Program provides free breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening to New Yorkers without insurance. If cancer is found, eligible New Yorkers can enroll in the New York State Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program to receive Medicaid coverage for cancer treatment.
New York State Department of Health's Community Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) program works with New York State employers to implement workplace policies to provide employees with paid time off for cancer screening.
The New York State Cancer Consortium is a network of more than 300 organizations working together to reduce the burden of cancer through strategies that promote cancer prevention, education, and screening. The Department is an active member, participating in the Consortium's Steering Committee, providing support to the committee and other Consortium work groups, and facilitating the development and evaluation of the New York State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. An updated plan will be released in 2024.
New York State participates in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, End Results and Epidemiology program to collect standardized information on all cancer cases in New York. This information allows researchers, doctors, policy makers, public health professionals, and members of the public to monitor the burden of cancer, evaluate cancer prevention and control programs, and identify focus areas for research and policy development.
The New York State Cancer Registry also actively collaborates on research studies with a goal of improving cancer outcomes and reducing health disparities. In addition, the New York State Cancer Registry participates in the Virtual Pooled Registry- Cancer Linkage System (VPR-CLS) that allows researchers to conduct minimal risk linkage studies with multiple central cancer registries. The New York State Cancer Registry and cancer statistics can be found here.
To find a nearby screening location, visit New York's Cancer Services Program Community Programs List.
The New York State Cancer Registry and cancer statistics can be found here. Trends in screening detectable cancers can be found here.
Information on HPV-related cancer incidence and vaccination rates can be found here.
Trends in obesity-related cancers in New York State can be found here.
More information on cancer, including cancer types, prevention, treatment, and resources can be found here.
