February is National Cancer Prevention Month, and there are steps individuals can take to reduce the risk of cancer. 

The Iowa Cancer Registry and the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, states that Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the country. In the most recent data available from the National Cancer Institute in the five-year period between 2017 and 2021, Iowa recorded an average of 19,623 new cancer cases annually. 

A recent study from the American Cancer Society suggests that 40% of cancer cases in the U.S. are preventable, and 44% of cancer deaths in 2025 are attributed to behaviors that can be changed. Cancer prevention is about reducing risk where you can. Many everyday choices can influence cancer risk, even small changes can make a meaningful difference.  

Cancer prevention means taking active steps to reduce your risk of getting cancer. Some suggestions to help prevent cancer would be to not smoke and avoid secondhand smoke, reduce alcohol consumption, stay active, eat a balanced diet, use sunscreen, and get recommended screenings. Screening for cancer can catch it early, or prevent it entirely like planning a colonoscopy at age 45, and starting mammograms at 40. 

Catching cancer early increases the chances of treatment success and survival rates. Talking with a healthcare provider is a good place to start. 

In Washington County there were an estimated 160 new cancer cases in 2025.