--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have forgotten that curing cancer…" description: "\"We have forgotten that curing cancer starts with preventing cancer in the first place.\" — David Agus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/david-agus-27903_cancer_we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-sta_1460117.png" --- # We have forgotten that curing cancer starts with… ![“We have forgotten that curing cancer starts with preventing cancer in the first place.” quote by David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/david-agus-27903_cancer_we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-sta_1460117.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/david-agus-27903_cancer_we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-sta_1460117.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/david-agus-27903_cancer_we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-sta_1460117.png) > “We have forgotten that curing cancer starts with preventing cancer in the first place.” [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preventing disease is more effective than treating it after it appears, especially for cancer. **In simple terms:** Prevention beats treatment. Key Takeaway Focus on healthy habits now. Themes health prevention cancer lifestyle Mood concerned optimistic Type advice informative When to use this quote - diet choices - regular screening - environmental toxin avoidance - vaccination Key Concepts Public health risk reduction early intervention Questions to Reflect On - What daily habit could reduce your cancer risk? - How can society better support preventive health? A Different Perspective Prevention alone cannot eliminate all cancer risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Cancer Starts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer-starts-1721614/) [Curing Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curing-cancer-719492/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [Forgotten Curing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten-curing-5273032/) [Preventing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preventing/) [Preventing Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preventing-cancer-470336/) ## Related quotes > [Enoki mushrooms, a tasty variety commonly sold in grocery stores, were one of the first mushrooms studied for preventing cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-stamets/enoki-mushrooms-a-tasty-variety-commonly-sold-in-grocery-stores-were/) [Paul Stamets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-stamets/) > [The disease I have is quite a rare cancer, and it is located in a limited area - a very widespread area, but narrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/the-disease-i-have-is-quite-a-rare-cancer-and-it-is-located-in-a/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [Imagine being able to predict and prevent cancer before it starts. If we gather the world's talent and expertise in a committed, targeted effort,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cuomo/imagine-being-able-to-predict-and-prevent-cancer-before-it-starts-if/) [Margaret Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cuomo/) > [If you could make male mortality rates the same as female rates, you would do more good than curing cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/if-you-could-make-male-mortality-rates-the-same-as-female-rates-you/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [I've done millions of mediocre movies. I've done way more than my fair share. You do what you gotta do. This is not heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-done-millions-of-mediocre-movies-i-ve-done-way-more-than-my-fair/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Unlike curing cancer or heart disease, we already know how to beat hunger: food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/unlike-curing-cancer-or-heart-disease-we-already-know-how-to-beat/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [We are not brain surgeons. We are not curing cancer. We are not finding the next cure for Alzheimer's. We are simply and merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-hubert/we-are-not-brain-surgeons-we-are-not-curing-cancer-we-are-not-finding/) [Janet Hubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-hubert/) > [You do what you gotta do. This is not heart surgery. I'm not curing cancer. I'm just trying to put my kids through school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-heart-surgery-i-m-not-curing/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Come on, I'm a television star. Nobody on television is curing cancer. I've had a great ride, and I'm very honored to have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hasselhoff/come-on-i-m-a-television-star-nobody-on-television-is-curing-cancer-i/) [David Hasselhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hasselhoff/) > [What I do is not curing cancer or rocket science or lead mining - anything tremendously difficult or world changing. I understand where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/what-i-do-is-not-curing-cancer-or-rocket-science-or-lead-mining/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [It ain't like we're curing cancer or anything, we're watching basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/it-ain-t-like-we-re-curing-cancer-or-anything-we-re-watching/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I like to think of making cancer a chronic disease rather than focus just on curing cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-glimcher/i-like-to-think-of-making-cancer-a-chronic-disease-rather-than-focus/) [Laurie Glimcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-glimcher/) > [“I’m not exactly curing cancer, here, but it makes people happy, and I like to have standards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-knox/i-m-not-exactly-curing-cancer-here-but-it-makes-people-happy-and-i/) [Annie Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-knox/) > [The answer lies in preventing these failures, not in looking for better ways to fix the people who are failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/the-answer-lies-in-preventing-these-failures-not-in-looking-for/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [You cannot drive a system that's going to be aiming at preventing illness if everyone is not in it. The whole gaming of health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/you-cannot-drive-a-system-that-s-going-to-be-aiming-at-preventing/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) ## More by David Agus > [I'm a big believer in what's called personalized medicine, which refers to customizing your health care to your specific needs based on your physiology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/i-m-a-big-believer-in-what-s-called-personalized-medicine-which/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [If your DNA profile puts you at a higher risk of developing obesity, that doesn't mean it's your fate. You can take control of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/if-your-dna-profile-puts-you-at-a-higher-risk-of-developing-obesity/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [Cancer is the ultimate nemesis that hangs in the balance for one in three women and one in two men in their lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/cancer-is-the-ultimate-nemesis-that-hangs-in-the-balance-for-one-in/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [We may never understand illnesses such as cancer. In fact, we may never cure it. But an ounce of prevention is worth more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/we-may-never-understand-illnesses-such-as-cancer-in-fact-we-may-never/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [Of all the things a body loves, predictability is one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/of-all-the-things-a-body-loves-predictability-is-one-of-them/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [Keep a strict, predictable schedule 365 days a year that has you eating, sleeping, and exercising at about the same times day in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/keep-a-strict-predictable-schedule-365-days-a-year-that-has-you/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [We are finally entering an exciting time in medicine where we have the technology to custom-tailor treatment and preventive protocols just as we'd custom-tailor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/we-are-finally-entering-an-exciting-time-in-medicine-where-we-have/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [When's the last time you really thought about what you eat, how much you move throughout the day, whether or not you feel fantastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/when-s-the-last-time-you-really-thought-about-what-you-eat-how-much/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [I have developed a unique way of looking at the relationship of the human body to health and disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/i-have-developed-a-unique-way-of-looking-at-the-relationship-of-the/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [We all need to figure out what's right for us because nothing about life is one size fits all. Even for an Olympian, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/we-all-need-to-figure-out-what-s-right-for-us-because-nothing-about/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [We talk about cancer as a noun, as if it's a one time event: 'I've got cancer.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/we-talk-about-cancer-as-a-noun-as-if-it-s-a-one-time-event-i-ve-got/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [Much in the way Olympic athletes optimize their game by paying an enormous - borderline maniacal - amount of attention to things like diet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/much-in-the-way-olympic-athletes-optimize-their-game-by-paying-an/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [There's no question that the mind-body connection is real, even if we can't quantify it. Hope is one of the greatest weapons we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/there-s-no-question-that-the-mind-body-connection-is-real-even-if-we/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [I believe we can prevent or delay most disease until the 9th or 10th decade. The goal is to prevent anything that can affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/i-believe-we-can-prevent-or-delay-most-disease-until-the-9th-or-10th/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [In health care today, we spend most of the dollars - in terms of treating disease - in the last two years of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/in-health-care-today-we-spend-most-of-the-dollars-in-terms-of/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) [Explore all 20 David Agus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) ## More Cancer quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [Historically, more people have died of religion than cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/historically-more-people-have-died-of-religion-than-cancer/) [Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/) > [“Our kind of love can go into remission, but it's always waiting to return. Like the world sweetest cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/our-kind-of-love-can-go-into-remission-but-it-s-always-waiting-to/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [Bollywood is a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/bollywood-is-a-cancer/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [When people go get chemo, they're not injecting themselves with will - I have lost various loved ones to cancer, and I certainly don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/when-people-go-get-chemo-they-re-not-injecting-themselves-with-will-i/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [“the doctor hesitated before breaking the news to her. "those aren't stars. it's cancer." - forty years a smoker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lovelace/the-doctor-hesitated-before-breaking-the-news-to-her-those-aren-t/) [Amanda Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lovelace/) > [I loved you to the moon and back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-loved-you-to-the-moon-and-back/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [I would do away with super PACs. I think it's a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-conrad/i-would-do-away-with-super-pacs-i-think-it-s-a-cancer/) [Kent Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-conrad/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/) [Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/) > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) [Browse all 3,177 Cancer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have forgotten that curing cancer starts with preventing cancer in the first place.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Agus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-starts-with-preventing-cancer-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cancer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-starts-with-preventing-cancer-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/david-agus-27903_cancer_we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-sta_1460117.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/david-agus-27903_cancer_we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-sta_1460117.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/david-agus-27903_cancer_we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-sta_1460117.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have forgotten that curing cancer starts with preventing cancer in the first place.” — David Agus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Agus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have forgotten that curing cancer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-starts-with-preventing-cancer-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/we-have-forgotten-that-curing-cancer-starts-with-preventing-cancer-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```