Primary Prevention Goal

Goal: Create environments that support a healthy lifestyle in order to reduce cancer risk.

Co-Chairs
Susanne Tanski, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Kate McNally, Cheshire Coalition for Tobacco-Free Communities

There are many ways to reduce your risk of developing cancer. Primary Prevention focuses on changing behaviors, health systems, and policies to reduce the risk of developing cancer. The Primary Prevention work group focuses its efforts on three areas:

Tobacco use- reduce and eliminate the use of and exposure to tobacco.

• prevent children from starting to use tobacco
• promote quitting among adults and youth
• eliminate nonsmokers' exposure to secondhand smoke
• identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities among races

Obesity, nutrition, and physical activity- maintain a healthy weight. Healthy weight is related to nutrition and physical activity.

• reduce the number of obese and overweight New Hampshire residents
• increase the intake of healthy foods and drink
• increase the amount of physical activity New Hampshire residents participate in

Sun safety- reduce and eliminate exposure to sources of cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation, such as sunlight, sunlamps, and indoor tanning facilities.

• educate youth and adults about the dangers of tanning
• engage community agencies in promoting sun-safety activities

Sixteen objectives have been identified in the NH Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan to guide the Primary Prevention activities.