Earlier this year, readers of our newsletter voted cancer as one of their top health concerns. That concern is rightfully placed, as cancer is the second leading cause of death in the country, after cardiovascular disease. While the healthcare system focuses on the treatment and management of cancer, public health helps Virginians focus on prevention through adopting healthy behaviors and avoiding unhealthy environments, and by improving access to cancer screening for early detection.

On these fronts there is good news- the risk of dying from cancer has dropped over 30% in the past three decades thanks to improvements in prevention and early detection, as well as advances in treatment options (American Cancer Society). One of the biggest success stories is the decline in rates of lung cancer, due in part to more prevention (fewer people smoking) and improved screening (cancers being caught in earlier stages).

We encourage all Virginians catch up on medical visits for routine screenings, such as mammograms, pap smears, and colorectal checks that may have been delayed by the pandemic. We also strongly recommend teens complete the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination series to protect against HPV-related cancers. However, we should not think of health as something we only get at the doctor’s office; instead, it is something that starts in our families and homes.

For people who smoke, the single best way to decrease the risk of cancer is to quit using tobacco products, which are related to one out of every three U.S. cancers. Quit Now Virginia is a free service for Virginians 13 and older who want to quit tobacco (800-QUIT-NOW). Participants can choose among coaching options that include one-on-one sessions, a text messaging support program, and nicotine replacement therapy. Services are available 24/7 for users of cigarettes, vape products, and snuff or dip, as well as those supporting someone trying to quit.

We can also decrease our risk of cancer by eating a nutritious diet filled with fruits and vegetables, being physically active, and wearing sunscreen. Taken together, these behaviors can have a great impact on our health before we ever see a healthcare professional.

Our role in public health is to work with policymakers to ensure everyone has access to the prevention and care they need to be healthy. For example, Virginia Department of Health (VDH) public health programs such as Every Woman’s Life support women who struggle financially to gain access to free breast and cervical cancer screening services. Because people’s health can be affected by where they live, VDH offers a low-cost radon test kit program that allows Virginians, including those struggling to get by, to affordably test the air in their home. This program, which starts again on October 1, allows residents to test for indoor radon, a colorless, odorless gas thought to be the second leading cause of lung cancer.

Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District’s mission is to protect and promote the health of all people in all communities, and that includes working with health partners to reduce the number of people who get cancer, have complications from it and die from it. Our work helps Virginians expand their opportunities to make choices for living a long, healthy life.