Fund-A-Need - Sonoma Epicurean | The V Foundation for Cancer Research

Cancer Prevention and Interception

Preventing cancer before it forms is the best way to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals. This includes taking certain actions to lower risks (healthy lifestyle, limit sun exposure, staying up to date on vaccines that can prevent cancer), but we need further research into what causes cancer (gene mutations, environmental exposures, etc.) to develop preventative methods and guidelines.
Cancer Interception includes research that aims to detect cancer in its earliest forms (pre-cancerous or early tumors) AND to halt or reverse the process. Examples of cancer interception are: polyp removal during a colonoscopy and precancerous mole removal during a skin check. Cancer interception combines screening to identify a precancerous or early tumor with treatment or procedures that remove it or stop its growth.

In 2023, it was estimated that 45% of expected cancer deaths can be attributed to risk factors that can be modified (ex: smoking, UV exposure).
Research is urgent because understanding, detecting and treating cancers early will save lives. We need: a better understanding of what factors lead to cancer, accurate screening guidelines, and improved screening tools (less invasive, more accurate) to catch cancer in its earliest forms.
Continued investment in research on cancer prevention and cancer interception will be a driving factor in Victory Over Cancer^®.