Cancer mortality in the United States continues to decline, according to the new Cancer Statistics, 2025 report. From 1991 to 2022, almost 4.5 million deaths have been averted due to reductions in smoking, improvements in treatment, and earlier detection through primary care.
Primary care has proven essential to catching cancer at its earliest stages, thereby reducing its severity as well as its mortality rate. A 2022 study of the association between primary care and cancer found that an annual visit to a primary care physician (PCP) reduced the patient’s odds of metastatic disease at diagnosis by 39% and lowered their risk of cancer-related death by 21%.
But while early detection is fundamental, the ultimate goal of the primary care relationship is preventing cancer altogether. University of Chicago Medicine primary care doctor Laurence Gordon, DO recently highlighted six ways that PCPs help their patients prevent cancer.
1. Monitoring overall health over time. Gordon is always on the lookout for unexplainable fatigue and weight loss, which are possible symptoms of cancer. “Once you get to know a patient, you pick up on what isn’t normal for them,” he said.
2. Encouraging healthy behaviors. PCPs provide guidance on quitting tobacco, take stock of your diet and physical activity, and ensure you’re up to date on protective vaccines.
3. Advising timely cancer screenings. As the cornerstones of health care, PCPs keep close track of the latest research on who should receive which cancer screenings – and when to get them.
4. Exploring family history and genetic testing. “We look for patterns in your family to determine whether you might benefit from earlier or more frequent screening,” Gordon said.
5. Answering your questions and concerns. PCPs play an important role in addressing your cancer queries, from clarifying your cancer risk to explaining why a mole looks abnormal.
6. Connecting you with specialists and coordinating your care. If your PCP suspect cancers, they will get you to the necessary specialist at the right time. Gordon said that for certain cancers “you may be overseen by your PCP and not an oncologist.”
Read more about the relationship between primary care and cancer prevention at the UChicagoMedicine website.