Developing cancer is one of the greatest health challenges of our time. Every year, around 500,000 people in Germany are newly diagnosed with cancer. With over 230,000 deaths per year, cancer is the second most common cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. Up to 50 percent of all cancers are considered preventable if risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet are reduced and early detection examinations and vaccinations are carried out. Cancer prevention affects each person individually, but takes place in particular in the various living environments: Health-promoting conditions are essential at daycare centers, schools, in the workplace or in clubs in the form of non-smoker protection, urban planning that promotes physical activity, healthy food in the canteen and so on.
From walk-in bowel models to PSA tests and telephone campaigns
The Cancer Prevention Weeks activities included a walk-in model of the bowel in the Marstall Ludwigsburg with a focus on bowel cancer, a specialist lecture on the topic of "Gynecological cancer prevention - breast cancer" in the district administration office and a telephone campaign with experts on the topic of prostate cancer, a free PSA test and a keynote speech by doctors from Ludwigsburg Hospital and the health department. In addition, a comprehensive prevention event on HPV, skin cancer and a healthy lifestyle was held at Bönnigheim secondary school for around 200 pupils in the eighth and ninth grades, as well as an action day at Bietigheim-Bissingen vocational school center on the topic of "Lung cancer and smoking" with a walk-in lung model, informative specialist presentations, hands-on activities and a panel discussion.
Reflecting on your own risky habits
Both the pupils and the cooperation partners were particularly impressed by the explanations given by those affected. In this way, the topic of cancer, which for many is abstract, was made directly tangible and the need for cancer prevention was made directly tangible, which encouraged them to reflect on their own risky habits such as smoking.
Conclusion and outlook
The Cancer Prevention Weeks 2025 have underlined the central role of education and prevention in the various spheres of life. Based on a final evaluation, a thematic expansion to include mental health, addiction prevention and eating habits was recommended for future measures. Children and young people are considered a particularly important target group in health promotion to ensure that everyone can grow up healthily. The insights gained provide important impetus for practical and target group-oriented prevention strategies.
The great demand and the consistently positive feedback from the cooperation partners on the events of the Cancer Prevention Weeks encourage the Department of Health to offer prevention events on the topic of cancer again next year and to expand these further.
