The Most Common Cancers — and How to Lower Your Risk

Estimated New Cases: 145,600 each year

Estimated Deaths: 51,020 each year

Colorectal cancers start in the colon or rectum, and are typically grouped together. It typically begins as a growth called a polyp.

How to reduce your risk: Since colorectal cancers don’t always have symptoms, your best bet is to have regular colonoscopies, starting around age 50, unless there are other risk factors.

Estimated New Cases: 4.3 million basal cell carcinoma and 1 million squamous cell carcinoma cases each year in the United States.

Estimated Deaths: 7,230 each year

By far, the most common cancer is non-melanoma skin cancer. In fact, one in five Americans will develop this kind of skin cancer by age 70. It’s so common, and so rarely deadly, that it’s often treated separately from the most common cancers. Melanoma, however, is a different story.

How to reduce your risk: Reduce your exposure to UV rays. Wear SPF 15+ sunscreen every day.

Estimated New Cases: 268,600 in women and 2,670 in men

Estimated Deaths: 41,760 in women and 500 in men each year

One of the big three, breast cancer primarily affects women, but there are a small number of cases in men.

How to reduce your risk: Mammograms and breast self-exams help with early detection, when breast cancer is most treatable. If there is a family history of breast cancer, your doctor might suggest genetic testing.

Estimated New Cases: 228,150 each year

Estimated Deaths: 142,670 each year

Lung cancer is by far the leading killer of women and men among the big three cancers. The good news: As smoking becomes less prevalent, lung cancer deaths are also falling.

How to reduce your risk: Don’t smoke — or quit if you do. Avoid secondhand smoke and exposure to environmental toxins.

Estimated New Cases: 174,650 each year

Estimated Deaths: 31,620 each year

The last of the big three, and one that affects only men, prostate cancer often grows slowly — which has changed how the medical community thinks about detection and treatment. While it is common, most men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it.

How to reduce your risk: While testing for prostate cancer was once considered routine, it's now recommended that each man work with his health care provider to determine the best course of action.

Estimated New Cases: 96,480 each year

Estimated Deaths: 7,230 each year

Melanoma is less common than either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, but it is far more deadly — which is one reason it’s considered separately. Melanoma grows quickly and is harder to cure.

How to reduce your risk: While avoiding sun and UV exposure is important, it’s less strongly associated with this type of skin cancer. Your best best is to monitor your skin, especially anything that appears to be a mole, and to have periodic skin exams by a doctor.

Estimated New Cases: 80,470 each year

Estimated Deaths: 17,670 each year

Bladder cancer is more common in men than in women. It’s often caught at an early, more treatable, stage.

How to reduce your risk: There are no routine tests for bladder cancer. The key is to live a healthy lifestyle — definitely avoid smoking — and to have regular health care visits.

Estimated New Cases: 74,200 each year

Estimated Deaths: 19,970 each year

Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which develops in a type of white blood cell, is the most common, and there are several different types — some of which are more aggressive than others.

How to reduce your risk: The risk factors for lymphomas are unclear, but lifestyle matters — and you’re at an increased risk if you’ve had certain infections, such as HIV and Epstein-Barr; are exposed to pesticides; or have used immunosuppressants.

Estimated New Cases: 73,820 each year

Estimated Deaths: 14,770 each year

There are two main types of kidney cancer — renal cell carcinoma and renal pelvis carcinoma.

How to reduce your risk: Don’t smoke — or quit, if you do — and do not use over-the-counter pain medications for extended periods of time.

Estimated New Cases: 61,880 each year

Estimated Deaths: 12,160 each year

Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer — and the most curable. Obviously, it only affects women — predominantly women age 60 and older.

How to reduce your risk: Aside from the common lifestyle choices, women should talk to their doctors about their exposure to estrogen and, for breast cancer patients, the use of tamoxifen.

Estimated New Cases: 61,780 each year

Estimated Deaths: 22,840 each year

Leukemias are cancers of the blood cells — typically the white blood cells. It’s the most common childhood cancer.

How to reduce your risk: Like other cancers, it’s unclear how leukemia forms. One key risk factor — other than lifestyle — is previous cancer treatment.

There are certain risk factors you can’t control — like getting older or a family history of a certain type of cancer. But there are a few things we can all do to reduce our risk of cancer.

• Eat a balanced diet
• Moderate your alcohol intake
• Don’t smoke
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Wear sunscreen

It’s just what the doctor ordered.

For more information about cancer, see cancer.gov