Cracking the Cancer Code
Make healthy lifestyle choices and get early screenings to reduce your risk of getting cancer.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) National Center for Health Statistics.
And although cancer mortality rates are declining, a 2025 study from the American Cancer Society found that cancer cases are rising among women and younger people.
To learn more about how you can stay healthier, prevent cancer and get essential screenings, UCHealth Today spoke with Dr. Robert Hoyer, medical director of oncology research at the UCHealth Hematology and Oncology center in Colorado Springs.
Hoyer is an expert in lifestyle medicine and encourages people to tap into the power of adopting healthy, sustainable behaviors to reduce risks of getting cancer.
‘‘Cancer is both a lifestyle and a genetic risk condition,’’ Hoyer said.
So how can you reduce your chances of getting cancer?
It’s impossible to prevent cancer entirely, though you can reduce your risk by choosing a healthy lifestyle.
‘‘Genetics probably accounts for no more than 20% of cancer risk. We’re making progress in cancer treatment. … We’re making steady progress. I do think there needs to be more focus on cancer prevention,’’ Hoyer said.
How to reduce the chances of getting cancer?
Here are Hoyer’s top strategies for preventing cancer:
