The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer in 2025 and that at least 40% of these cases could be attributed to preventable causes, including smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and excessive exposure to the sun. In observance of National Cancer Prevention Month, Ryon Nakasone, M.D., a private practice physician at Hawaii Oncology who specializes in medical oncology and hematology, answered our questions about cancer risk factors and prevention methods, as well as the importance of early cancer detection through screenings and tests.
Why is National Cancer Prevention Month so important?
This is a time to raise awareness about the steps we can take as individuals, families, employers, and communities to reduce cancer risk and improve early detection. Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Hawaii, yet there are cancers that are potentially preventable or can be detected early, when treatment is most effective and less costly. From both a human and economic perspective, prevention and early detection are among the most powerful tools we have.
Cancer typically develops gradually due to genetics, environment, and lifestyle. National Cancer Prevention Month emphasizes that many cancers can be prevented through proactive risk reduction.
Prevention involves detecting cancer early, which allows for more effective and less costly treatment. Awareness campaigns this month promote screening, vaccination, and healthy habits that save lives.
What lifestyle choices can reduce the risk or severity of cancer?
While no single behavior guarantees cancer prevention, several lifestyle choices are consistently associated with lower cancer risk and improved outcomes:
- Avoid tobacco in all forms. Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of cancer, linked to lung cancer as well as cancers of the head and neck, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, kidney, and more. Avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke is the single most impactful cancer-prevention step.
- Stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is associated with increased risk of multiple cancers, including breast (postmenopausal), colorectal, uterine, kidney, and pancreatic cancers. Regular physical activity helps regulate hormones, reduce inflammation, and improve immune function. Even moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, can make a meaningful difference.
- Eat a balanced, plant-forward diet. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins are associated with a lower risk of cancer. Limiting processed foods, red meats, and excess sugar can help reduce inflammation and metabolic stress. Alcohol intake should be limited, as alcohol increases the risk of breast, liver, esophageal, and head and neck cancers.
- Protect your skin. Living in Hawaii means year-round sun exposure. Regular use of broad-spectrum sunscreen, protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses, as well as avoiding tanning beds, significantly reduces the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. Sun protection is not seasonal here; it’s a daily preventive habit.
- Prioritize sleep and stress management. Chronic sleep deprivation and unmanaged stress may impair immune function and contribute indirectly to cancer risk. Establishing healthy sleep routines and stress-reduction strategies supports overall health and resilience.
What else can we do to protect ourselves from cancer?
In Hawaii, access to preventive care and culturally responsive health care can play a major role in improving outcomes. It’s essential to leverage the available benefits and community resources, including:
- Stay up to date on cancer screening. Evidence-based cancer screening is a cornerstone of high-quality preventive care. Simply put, screening saves lives. Tests such as mammograms, colonoscopies, Pap smears, HPV testing, low-dose CT scans for lung cancer (in eligible individuals), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in appropriate populations can detect cancer early or prevent it altogether by identifying precancerous changes.
Screening efforts have made measurable progress, yet opportunities remain. According to data from the Hawaii Department of Health and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), approximately 88% of women ages 50-74 report having had a mammogram within the past two years, and about three-quarters of adults ages 50-75 are up to date with colorectal cancer screening. Cervical cancer screening rates similarly approach 75-80% among eligible women. Despite these encouraging numbers, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in Hawaii, accounting for roughly 2,500 deaths each year, underscoring the importance of continued outreach, equitable access, and participation in preventive care across all communities.
Screening rates and cancer outcomes vary, with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations facing higher rates of advanced cancer diagnosis and mortality. These differences are not driven by individual choices alone, but by structural and systemic factors such as access to primary care and screening services, geographic distance from health care clinics, transportation challenges, work and caregiving responsibilities, language barriers, and the historical impact of underinvestment and mistrust in health care systems.
Advancing cancer prevention in Hawaii requires equitable, culturally responsive strategies such as community outreach, patient navigation, flexible screening, and insurance designs that lower financial and logistical barriers. This could prioritize prevention and early detection, and close care gaps. Preventive services increase cancer screening and early detection. Addressing disparities is essential to lower preventable cancer harm in Hawaii.
- Vaccination. Vaccines are a powerful and often overlooked cancer-prevention tool. The HPV vaccine prevents most cervical and anal cancers and many head and neck cancers. The hepatitis B vaccine reduces the risk of liver cancer. These are true examples of cancer prevention through immunization.
- Minimize harmful exposures. Limiting exposure to environmental carcinogens — such as excessive radiation, occupational chemicals, and air pollution when possible — adds another layer of protection. Following workplace safety guidelines and using protective equipment is essential.
- Engage with primary care. Routine doctor visits help identify health risks, arrange timely screening tests, and allow symptoms to be checked early. Staying connected with a primary care provider is a cornerstone of cancer prevention.
Why is knowing my family health history helpful?
Family health history provides critical insight into inherited cancer risk. Certain cancers, such as breast, ovarian, colorectal, prostate, pancreatic, and melanoma, may cluster in families due to shared genetics. Knowing your family history helps health care providers:
- Identify people who may benefit from earlier or more frequent screening.
- Determine whether genetic counseling or testing is appropriate.
- Tailor prevention strategies to individual risk.
Family history isn’t limited to parents. Information about siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even cousins can be relevant. Updating this history over time ensures that preventive strategies evolve as new information becomes available.
What should I do during National Cancer Prevention Month?
It’s important to remember that cancer prevention isn’t solely a medical issue; it’s a shared responsibility.
In Hawaii, prevention benefits both individuals and families. Prioritizing healthy habits, screenings, vaccinations, and early detection can reduce suffering, lower health care costs, and improve outcomes across the Islands.
Cancer prevention begins with awareness, but it’s sustained through action. February is the perfect time to start.
Get proactive!
You don’t have to wait for a specific day, week, or month to learn about various health conditions! Check out these articles:
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