There are several varieties of cancer and each one is unique in its symptoms, organs affected and causes. It isn’t possible to completely eliminate your risk (we can’t help our genetics), but there are plenty of things that you can do to lessen your risks. Below are some of the most widely accepted cancer preventive methods.
The first in this list is to stop smoking if you do smoke and banning public smoking in your community. While big tobacco companies continue to deny it, there is enough evidence to prove that smoking tobacco products is one of the most common causes of lung cancer. It is because of this that almost every country in the world has made it a mandate to issue health warnings for cigarettes. However, the worst part is that lung cancer can be caused even by second hand or passive smoke. It is taken for granted that the smoker has a huge health risk by smoking but when he or she exhales and the people around him breathe the same air, they inhale the same contaminants, the nicotine, ash etc and are at an equally bad health risk.
Another common cause of cancer is exposure to toxic, carcinogenic materials. For the average citizen, it is impossible to know which ones are potentially carcinogenic but if you can eliminate all chemical waste and rubbish from your surroundings, you can certainly avoid coming in contact with cancer causing agents. A regular clean up of the neighborhood, household and community, especially eliminating any particulate matter that can be inhaled or any chemical waste that can degrade and somehow cause radiation will go a long way in helping prevent cancer for both yourself and everyone around you.
Another common cancer is skin cancer, which is caused by excess exposure to the sun and more importantly, to artificial radiation such as UV light in tanning beds. Avoiding the use of these and minimizing the amount of time you spend in the outdoors is a good way to start. If you have the option, best go for a sunscreen lotion that has both UVA and UVB blocks
These above ways are only some mechanistic pointers. However, many cancers are genetic and there is nothing that can be done about it except following a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and plenty of exercise.