Many cancer screenings and prevention services are available at Maryland Family Planning Program clinics. Services are free or affordable and insurance is accepted but not required. No one is ever turned away based on ability to pay. You can use the clinic finder search tool below to find a clinic near you. Services are free or affordable and you can also use your insurance, including Medicaid, at all of the clinic locations. Insurance is not required and no one is ever turned away based on ability to pay.
Preventing cancer
Cancer can be caused by diseases, genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. While it is impossible to guarantee a lifetime free of cancer, some specific cancers can be prevented by vaccines. You can reduce the risk of acquiring others by making healthy choices such as wearing hats and using sunscreen to reduce the risk of skin cancer, not smoking or quitting smoking to reduce the risk of lung cancer, and maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle to support a strong immune system.
At Maryland Family Planning Program clinics you can get two vaccines that are available to prevent infections that cause cancer:
- The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prevents HPV infection and the cancers it can cause in the cervix, penis, vagina, anus, and throat.
- The hepatitis B vaccine prevents hepatitis B infection and the cancer it can cause in the liver.
You can also receive screening, counseling and referrals from a family planning clinic provider related to:
- Alcohol and other drug use
- Tobacco use
- Diabetes
- Blood pressure
- Diet
- Depression
- Intimate partner violence
