Cancer Prevention and Health Promotion

Cancer

About 6,200 Nova Scotians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2017, however many of these cancers can be prevented or found early when treatment is more effective.

The Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program is working with partners to influence policy and planning to create environments that support Nova Scotians in being able to adopt healthy lifestyles. Nova Scotians can lower their risk of being diagnosed with cancer by:

Not smoking
Being physically active
Limit alcoholic drinks
Limit the amount of salt in your diet
Limit the amount of red and processed meats in your diet
Avoiding tanning beds and practicing sun safety
Participating in cancer screening programs

News and Stories

December 1, 2025 | 4 min read

General practitioners in oncology – quarterbacks in community cancer care

Two women (patient and a doctor) sitting next to each other in a clinic room.

November 6, 2025 | 3 min read

Meet Julie Kraus, Manager, Cancer System Quality

A woman with long brown hair wears a blue dress with a brown belt and is sitting in a room with white cabinets behind her.

October 14, 2025 | 3 min read

Medical Device Reprocessing Week

Woman on the left has a brown bob, clear glasses frames and a blue and patterned tank top. The woman on the right has a black shirt, brown shirt over top, brown hair and dark features.

Accessing Primary Care

There are many ways to access primary care, even if you're not currently attached to a primary care provider.

Answer a few quick questions to receive personalized instructions for accessing Nova Scotia Health's primary care options near you including in-person, virtual and telephone options.

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Find Emergency Care

Use this tool to identify the emergency care options that are currently available nearest to you.

If this is a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance