Cancer Prevention Begins Before Cancer: How Lifestyle, Genetics, and Early Screening Can Change Outcomes…

Dr. Chandrakanth MV
Academic Head & Senior Consultant – Medical & Hemato Oncology, BMT, Narayana Health – Howrah

Shifting the Focus From Treatment to Prevention

Cancer is often discussed only after diagnosis, yet prevention begins much earlier—often decades before the disease develops. Growing scientific evidence shows that a substantial proportion of cancers can be prevented or detected early through lifestyle modification, genetic risk assessment, and timely screening. This shift from reaction to prevention has the potential to dramatically improve cancer outcomes.

Lifestyle Choices Play a Powerful Role in Cancer Risk

Daily habits such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic stress are strongly linked to cancer development. Tobacco alone is responsible for multiple cancers, including those of the lung, oral cavity, and esophagus. Similarly, obesity and sedentary lifestyles are now recognised contributors to breast, colorectal, and endometrial cancers.

Importantly, cancer risk reduction follows a dose–response relationship—meaning even partial, sustained lifestyle improvements can significantly reduce long-term cancer risk.

The Role of Nutrition and Physical Activity in Prevention

A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins helps protect cells from damage, while regular physical activity supports immune function and hormonal balance. Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important, as excess body fat promotes chronic inflammation and hormonal dysregulation, both of which increase cancer risk.

Prevention does not require perfection—sustained, realistic habits are what make the difference.

Understanding Genetic Risk: Knowledge Is Power

Not all cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes alone. Some individuals carry inherited genetic mutations that increase their risk of cancers such as breast, ovarian, colorectal, or prostate cancer. A family history of cancer—particularly at a young age or across multiple generations—should prompt genetic counselling.

Knowing one’s genetic risk allows for personalised prevention strategies, closer surveillance, and, when appropriate, risk-reducing interventions. Genetic testing should always be guided by clinical criteria and professional counselling to ensure appropriate interpretation and action.

Early Screening Saves Lives by Detecting Cancer Early

Screening enables the detection of cancer at an early stage, often before symptoms appear, when treatment is most effective. Tests such as mammography, Pap smears, colonoscopy, and low-dose CT scans for high-risk individuals have been proven to reduce cancer-related mortality.

Early detection not only improves survival but also allows for less aggressive treatment and a better quality of life. Screening strategies must be adapted to regional cancer patterns, resource availability, and individual risk profiles, especially in low- and middle-income settings.

Why Many Cancers Are Still Diagnosed Late

Despite advances in screening and awareness, many cancers in India are still diagnosed at advanced stages. Lack of awareness, fear, social stigma, and delayed medical consultation remain major barriers. Addressing these gaps through education, regular health check-ups, and encouraging early consultation for persistent or unexplained symptoms is essential to improving outcomes at a population level.

Prevention Is a Shared Responsibility

Cancer prevention is not solely the responsibility of doctors or hospitals. Individuals, families, employers, and communities all play a role. Encouraging routine health check-ups, promoting healthy workplaces, and normalising conversations around cancer screening can help create a culture where prevention is prioritised over late-stage treatment.

Personalised Prevention Is the Future of Cancer Care

Modern oncology is moving toward personalised prevention, where lifestyle advice, genetic information, and screening schedules are tailored to an individual’s risk profile. This approach ensures that high-risk individuals receive timely intervention while avoiding unnecessary procedures for those at lower risk.

Looking Ahead: Acting Early to Change Outcomes

Cancer prevention truly begins before cancer develops. By adopting healthier lifestyles, understanding genetic predisposition, and embracing early screening, many cancers can either be prevented or detected early. Early action not only saves lives but also reduces the emotional, physical, and financial burden of cancer.

The greatest impact in cancer care may not come from treating advanced disease, but from preventing it altogether.