Prevention Programs aim to prevent cancer or detect its presence in the initial stages among the Brazilian population. They are handled by CONPREV - Cancer Prevention and Surveillance Coordination Unit.

The Program for Smoking Cessation and Control of Other Cancer Risk Factors and the Program for Cervical Cancer and Breast Cancer Control - VIVA MULHER are developed throughout the country in communities, health units, schools and work environments respectively.

At CONPREV INCA has established a Nicotine Addiction Research Center, whose objective is to test methods and drugs to help smokers quit their smoking habits and to help health care professionals how to deal with this problem in their daily practices.

Public Education Events are held on commemorative dates, promoting the importance of cancer prevention and early detection. Every year INCA joins the World No Tobacco Day celebrations (May 31) and promotes the National Day Against Smoking (August 29) and the Fighting Cancer National Day (November 27).

INCA's work is recognized internationally. The Institute was nominated by the World Health Organization as its central collaborator to lead the program "Tobacco or Health in Latin America".

The objective of the Program for Surveillance on Cancer and other Risk Factors ruled by CONPREV is to collect scientific data on the incidence of cancer among Brazilians. Based on these data and other sources, INCA publishes a yearly estimate of new cases and of deaths by cancer in Brazil.

The Population-Based Cancer Registries documents new cases of cancer, and is installed in 17 municipalities, covering 20% of the Brazilian population. One of its sources is the Hospital-Based Cancer Registration which produces information on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the hospitals.