Cancer Prevention Starts in Childhood

"You can lower your children’s risk of getting cancer later in life by getting them vaccinated against HPV and helping them make healthy choices.

Get Your Kids Vaccinated Against HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sex. It can cause cervical and other kinds of cancer. Some cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharynx (back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils) are caused by HPV.

The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most commonly cause cancer. All preteens should get vaccinated when they are 11 or 12 years old. Teenagers and young adults through 26 years, who haven’t started or finished the HPV vaccine series, should get vaccinated as soon as possible. HPV vaccination can be given starting at age 9 years.

Talk to Your Kids About Smoking and Cancer

Nearly 9 out of 10 people who smoke cigarettes first try them by age 18, and 98% by age 26. In 2019, about one-third of high school students and about 1 in 8 middle school students had used a tobacco product in the past 30 days. Talk to your children about why you don’t want them to smoke..."
Cancer prevention in children