Sun-Protection Factor (SPF) 15 sunscreen is just as good as SPF 70, if applied and reapplied properly, and it is usually more affordable. The protection an SPF offers does not increase with the SPF number. SPF 15 absorbs 93% of the sun's burning rays, while SPF 70 absorbs about 98%. Sunglasses are a must to protect the eyes. You don't have to buy costly, designer shades to get good ultraviolet (UV) protection. When shopping for a new pair of sunglasses, look for ones that have broad UV protection that absorb at least 99% of UV rays.

5. Get regular check-ups.

Wellness exams, or cancer screening exams, are medical tests done when you are healthy, and you don't have any signs of illness. They make sure that cancer is found at its earliest, most treatable stages. The chances of surviving colorectal, breast and cervical cancers are higher if found early. In addition to finding cancer early, screening exams for colorectal and cervical cancers also can remove abnormal cells that may turn into cancer. Doing this prevents cancer altogether.

Many states and counties offer free or low-cost screening exams for men and women who qualify. To learn about what your state offers, call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.

For additional information, visit www.mdanderson/focused.

M. D. Anderson expert available for interview:

Michele Forman, Ph.D., professor in M. D. Anderson's Department of Epidemiology

Forman is has 32 years of nutritional epidemiology research in international and national settings. She developed and validated culture-specific food frequency questionnaires and infant feeding surveys. She conducted clinical nutrition research in hormones, micronutrients and biomarkers of dietary response. Most of her research career has been spent studying health disparities. She is on editorial boards of nutrition and epidemiology journals and has more than 120 peer-reviewed publications, seven book chapters and four editorials.