Risk Prevention

Nearly half of Saskatchewan residents will develop cancer, the province’s leading cause of death.  

The good news? No matter your age, you can lower your risk of cancer by making small changes that support good health in the following six areas: 

Live smoke-free

There is no safe amount when it comes to smoking commercial tobacco. The best choice is to not smoke or to quit.  

Avoiding secondhand smoke also matters.  

Quitting lowers your risk of cancer and other diseases. It’s never too late; your health improves right away, and your lung cancer risk drops over time. 

For help to quit, visit our Quit Smoking page and saskquitnow.ca for more information and resources. 

Limit alcohol 
  • Alcohol is a known cancer risk — linked to at least seven types, including breast, colon and liver cancer. Even small amounts can be harmful.  
  • About 3,300 cancer cases in Canada each year are linked to alcohol. 
  • Drinking less lowers your risk, especially when you also stay active, eat well and avoid smoking.  


How to reduce your risk 

  • Stick to two drinks or fewer per week 
  • Choose alcohol-free or low-alcohol options 
  • Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or mocktails 
  • Plan alcohol-free days or events regularly 


Learn more: Canadian Cancer Society – Limit Alcohol 

Be sun safe 
  • Too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer because UV rays damage skin cell DNA. 
  • About 90 per cent of cases are linked to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds – even without a sunburn. 
  • Check the UV index on weather sites or apps – when it’s at 3 or higher, use sun protection, even on cloudy or snowy days.  



Sun safety tips for all seasons  

  • Check the UV Index daily. 
  • Plan outdoor activities before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. 
  • Cover up with a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves and 100 per cent coverage UVA/UVB sunglasses.  
  • Use SPF 30+ daily, even when it’s cloudy; reapply every two hours. 
  • Stay hydrated and seek shade, especially near water, snow or sand. 
  • Avoid tanning beds — there is no such thing as a safe tan. 

Learn more at Sun Smart Saskatchewan — Saskatchewan’s source for sun safety 

Eat well
  • Eating nutritious foods every day helps lower the risk of cancers like esophageal, stomach, lung, pancreatic and prostate. 
  • Fill your plate with fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains.  
  • Limit red meat, foods high in salt and added sugar, and avoid processed meats.  
  • Skip sugary drinks.  


Learn more: 

Canadian Cancer Society: Eat Well 

Canada's food guide: The government of Canada's guidance on healthy eating for people in Canada aged 2 years and older. 

Be active
  • Being active helps lower the risk of at least eight types of cancer, including breast and colon.  
  • Any movement counts – find a buddy and make it fun! Walk, garden, swim or play outside. 
  • Start with 10 minutes and gradually build up. Aim for 30+ minutes of activity a day that gets your heart pumping and makes you breathe harder.  


Learn more:  

Canadian Cancer Society: Move more, sit less. 
Participaction: Removing barriers and creating opportunities for everyone living in Canada to make room to move in their daily lives. 

Get vaccinated for HPV

What is HPV?  

  • HPV (human papillomavirus) is the world’s most common sexually transmitted infection. It can cause genital warts and several cancers, like cervical, anal, vaginal, penile and throat cancer. 
  • Most people don’t show symptoms, so it’s easy to spread. Three in four Canadians will get it, especially between the ages of 15 and 24.  
  • The best protection? The HPV vaccine and regular screening (like participating in CervixCheck).  
  • Visit here for more information on HPV and the HPV vaccine. 


Partner with us

Cancer affects two in five people in Canada, but about four in 10 cases can be prevented through healthy living and supportive policies. 

Still, not everyone has the same chance to make healthy choices. Where people live, their income, education and the inequities they face can limit access to things like fresh food or cancer screening.  

To reduce cancer for everyone, action from governments, health partners, and communities to close these gaps in access to health care is needed.  

 
Engage with us 

We partner with communities and organizations to remove barriers and increase access to cancer prevention and screening. We also offer education and health promotion for professionals and the public. 

To engage with us, you can: 

 
Meet Our Partners 
  • SunSmart: Saskatchewan’s source for sun safety 
  • Northern Health Communities Partnership: Bringing people and organizations together to improve health outcomes for northern Saskatchewan residents. 
  • The Saskatchewan Tobacco & Nicotine Action Collaborative (STNAC) is a cross-sector group of organizations and stakeholders working collaboratively to address the impacts of commercial tobacco and nicotine use in Saskatchewan through prevention, reduction, quit-support, advocacy, and research initiatives.
    As part of this work, STNAC has created an online inventory of smoking and vaping cessation resources for individuals and healthcare providers, making it easier to find information, tools, and support to help people quit.
  • Many communities, governments and organizations that offer culturally appropriate, personalized information to help people understand and lower their cancer risk at events such as Back to Batoche, community health fairs, tradeshows, etc.