Cancer Prevention and Screening
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death, after heart disease in New York City. It is one of the leading causes of premature death. The most common types of cancer are skin, breast, prostate, lung and colon/rectum.
Learn what steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting cancer and how to catch it early.
Risk Factors
Different types of cancers have different risk factors. You may be more likely to get cancer if you:
- Are older (many cancers are more common in older adults)
- Have a family history of cancer
- Smoke
- Have obesity
- Are exposed to the sun or ultraviolet (UV) radiation frequently
- Drink alcohol
People with risk factors will not necessarily get cancer, and people without risk factors can still get it. We do not always know why some people get cancer and some people do not.
Reducing Your Risk
To lower your risk of some types of cancer:
- If you smoke, make a plan to quit.
- Include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Reduce the amount and how often you drink alcohol.
Vaccines may prevent some types of cancer. For example, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has the potential to prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers. The hepatitis B vaccine may reduce the risk of liver cancer.
- 10 Ways To Lower Your Cancer Risk (PDF)
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Screening
Screening can prevent cancer or find cancer early, when it is easier to treat. The different cancer screenings that people should discuss with your health care provider include:
- A mammogram to look for breast cancer
- A Pap test to look for cervical cancer, or HPV test to check your risk
- A colonoscopy or stool (feces) test to look for colon cancer
- A low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan to look for lung cancer, if you currently smoke or have a history of smoking in the past 15 years
- A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to look for signs of prostate cancer
If you are at a high risk for certain cancers, your provider may recommend other screening tests or more frequent testing. Talk to your provider about the benefits and risks of screening for you.
Payment and Insurance
Most insurance plans cover cancer screening services, such as colonoscopies and mammograms, often without a copay. If you do not have insurance, you may be eligible to sign up for low- or no-cost coverage. You can also get free in-person assistance signing up for a plan.
Free or Low-Cost Cancer Screenings for People Without Insurance
The New York State Cancer Services Program
The New York State Cancer Services Program provides colon cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer screening to uninsured New Yorkers ages 45 to 75. Visit the New York State Cancer Services Program or call 1-866-442-CANCER to connect directly to the program in your area to find out if you’re eligible.
The American-Italian Cancer Foundation's Cancer Screening Programs
The American-Italian Cancer Foundation, a partner of the NYC Health Department, provides free breast cancer screening and prostate cancer screening services and health education to New Yorkers.
- The Mobile No-Cost Breast Cancer Screening Program provides breast cancer screening services to women ages 40 to 75. The mammogram bus visits the five boroughs of New York City five days a week throughout the year to bring services directly to neighborhoods with low-income levels, limited screening access, and high incidences of breast cancer.
- The Mobile No-Cost Prostate Cancer Screening Program provides prostate cancer screening services to men ages 40 to 69. The mobile screening events bring services directly to all five boroughs of New York City, especially reaching underserved populations that face higher prostate cancer mortality rates.
Other Low- or No-Cost Screenings
If you do not have insurance, you can also call 311 and ask about cancer screening. Operators can connect you to a New York City Health + Hospitals location, where you can find out if you qualify for low-cost or no-cost screening through one of their programs.