Cancer cannot be fully prevented in every case, but scientific research indicates that many cancers can be avoided or detected early by reducing risk factors and adopting healthier lifestyles. This challenges the widespread belief in some communities that cancer is solely determined by fate, curses, or witchcraft, or that it is entirely inherited and unavoidable.
In reality, cancer develops when body cells grow abnormally due to damage to their DNA. While some of this damage occurs naturally with age, a significant portion is linked to preventable causes, such as lifestyle choices, infections, and environmental exposure.
Risks
One of the most significant risk factors for cancer is tobacco use. Smoking is strongly associated with cancers of the lungs, mouth, throat, oesophagus, pancreas, and bladder. Tobacco contains toxic chemicals that directly damage cells, and no level of smoking is considered safe.
Alcohol consumption also increases the risk of cancer, particularly for cancers of the liver, breast, oesophagus, and digestive system. When alcohol is combined with smoking, the risk escalates even further.
Diet and physical activity play crucial roles in cancer prevention. Diets high in processed foods, unhealthy fats, and sugars, combined with a low intake of fruits and vegetables, contribute to obesity, which is linked to cancers such as breast, colon, and uterine cancer. Lack of physical activity increases risk further, while regular exercise helps regulate body weight, strengthen immunity, and reduce inflammation.
Infections are another key factor in cancer development. In Uganda and many other countries, cervical cancer is strongly linked to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Vaccination against HPV significantly reduces the risk of cervical cancer.
Additionally, Hepatitis B infection is associated with liver cancer, making vaccination an important preventive measure.
Health authorities, including the Uganda Cancer Institute and the Ministry of Health, continue to promote vaccination and screening to reduce infection-related cancers.
Experts advise against relying on herbal remedies or unproven ‘natural cures’ as methods of cancer prevention. There is no scientific evidence that herbal treatments alone can prevent cancer, and misinformation circulating online often leads people away from effective prevention strategies.
Screening
Regular screening is a critical component of cancer prevention. Screening helps detect early changes before they develop into cancer, or identifies cancer at an early stage when treatment is more successful. For instance, cervical cancer screening can identify pre-cancerous changes, while breast awareness helps individuals notice unusual lumps or symptoms early.
Cancer is also not limited to older individuals, contrary to common belief. Although the risk increases with age, children and young adults can also develop cancers, including blood cancers and childhood cancers.
Environmental exposures such as air pollution, harmful chemicals, radiation, pesticides, and unsafe workplace conditions also contribute to cancer risk. Protective measures and regular health monitoring are important for those working in high-risk environments.
Despite the influence of genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors still play a major role, meaning individuals can significantly reduce their risk through informed choices. Even people with a family history of cancer can benefit from maintaining healthy habits and undergoing regular medical checkups.
Prevention is a shared responsibility. Schools can promote healthy diets and physical activity, families can support better lifestyle choices, and community leaders can advocate for vaccination and screening. Governments also play a crucial role through policies such as tobacco control, vaccination programs, affordable screening services, and public health education.
While no method offers a 100 percent guarantee against cancer, evidence strongly suggests that a combination of healthy living, vaccination, early detection, and reduced exposure to known risks can significantly lower the chances of developing the disease.
Ultimately, cancer prevention is not about fear or fate, but about knowledge and action. When communities replace myths with science-based information, more lives can be saved through informed choices, early detection, and timely treatment.
The writer is the executive director, Uganda Cancer Institute