The warmer weather of summer often means more time spent outdoors in the sun. During the summer—and throughout the year—remember the importance of limiting sun exposure to prevent skin cancer. Although skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, most types of skin cancer can be prevented by reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even brief moments around smoke can be harmful to a person’s health. Exposure to secondhand smoke is especially unsafe for infants and children because their bodies and lungs are still developing and growing. Yet, more than half of all young children in the United States are exposed to secondhand smoke.

The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is a diagnostic examination used to detect blood in the feces (stool). Blood in the stool may be a sign of colorectal cancer or other problems such as polyps (growths that develop on the inner wall of the colon and rectum) or ulcers.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of computed tomography (CT) scanning because it uses a form of radiation. Recent research suggests that the use of CT scans may slightly increase cancer risk in the U.S. population. But, a person diagnosed with cancer or suspected of having cancer can safely receive a CT scan because the benefits always outweigh the risks.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that is most commonly transmitted during sex and direct skin-to-skin contact. There are more than 100 different types or strains of HPV. Most men and women aren’t aware they have an HPV infection because they don’t develop any symptoms or health problems. But in some cases, certain types of HPV can cause warts (noncancerous, abnormal growths on the skin) in various parts of the body. In other cases, specific HPV types can cause precancerous lesions (areas of abnormal tissue) or cancer.