When you include the American Institute for Cancer Research in your estate plans, you make a major difference in the fight against cancer.

Corporate Champions who partner with the American Institute for Cancer Research stand at the forefront of the fight against cancer

40 Years of Progress: Transforming Cancer. Saving Lives.

The AICR Lifestyle & Cancer Symposium addresses the most current and consequential issues regarding diet, obesity, physical activity and cancer.

The Annual AICR Research Conference is the most authoritative source for information on diet, obesity, physical activity and cancer.

Cancer Update Program – unifying research on nutrition, physical activity and cancer.

Read real-life accounts of how AICR is changing lives through cancer prevention and survivorship.

We bring a detailed policy framework to our advocacy efforts, and provide lawmakers with the scientific evidence they need to achieve our objectives.

AICR champions research that increases understanding of the relationship between nutrition, lifestyle, and cancer.

Are you ready to make a difference? Join our team and help us advance research, improve cancer education and provide lifesaving resources.

AICR’s resources can help you navigate questions about nutrition and lifestyle, and empower you to advocate for your health.

Cervical Cancer

Be proactive to protect your health.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer among women in the world. While there is no strong evidence linking aspects of food, nutrition and physical activity to the risk of this cancer, there are ways to lower the risk for cervical cancer.

This content was last updated on May 4, 2020

Globally, there were an estimated 570,000 new cases of cervical cancer in 2018, representing almost 7 percent of all cancers that affect women. This cancer is most frequently diagnosed among women ages 35-44.

The cervix sits at the bottom of the uterus and connects the uterus to the vagina. AICR’s latest report that analyzed cervical cancer found no strong evidence linking any aspect of food, nutrition and physical activity to the risk of this cancer.

Currently, the best way to protect against cervical cancer is to avoid risk factors when possible. Getting an HPV vaccine, using barrier protection during sexual activity and getting screenings can help reduce the number of cervical cancer cases.

Lifestyle and cervical cancer risk.

  • Infectious agents

    Almost all cervical cancers are associated with a carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV).

    • Women become susceptible to developing cervical cancer following infection with a carcinogenic HPV type, but there are other environmental factors that contribute to it too.
  • Sexual experiences

    Early sexual experiences and a relatively high number of sexual partners increase the risk and severity of HPV infection.

    • This may be seen as an indirect cause of cervical cancer.
  • Medication

    Dethylstilboestrol (a synthetic estrogen, now withdrawn) used by women during pregnancy is a cause of vaginal and cervical clear-cell adenocarcinoma in their daughters.

  • Smoking

    Smoking tobacco increases the risk of cervical cancer.

    • Women who smoke are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer as those who don’t. The effect of smoking tobacco, however, is independent to that of the viral infection.

Take a moment to check in with your health:

Foods that fight cancer.

No single food can protect you against cancer by itself. But research shows that a diet filled with a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and other plant foods helps lower risk for many cancers.

Cancer Updates

The science of survival.

AICR’s health guides and recommendations are developed from research that focuses on how nutrition and lifestyle affect the prevention, treatment, and survival of cancer. Paramount to our updates is the Continuous Update Project which helps you stay on top of new findings, and understand the data that sits at the center of our work.

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