New research indicates that nearly 40% of global cancer cases could be prevented by addressing three major lifestyle risk factors: tobacco use, infections, and alcohol consumption.
Recent findings published in Nature Medicine reveal that nearly half of all cancer cases worldwide could be prevented by eliminating three significant risk factors: tobacco, infections, and alcohol consumption. The study, conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), highlights that approximately 40% of global cancer cases are linked to these factors, which account for 15%, 10%, and 3% of new cases, respectively.
In 2022, around 7.1 million cancer diagnoses were attributed to 30 modifiable risk factors, according to the research. Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst for Fox News Digital, emphasized the importance of behavioral changes in cancer prevention, stating, “The key here is that almost half of all cancers could be prevented by behavioral changes.”
The study analyzed cancer data from 185 countries, correlating it with exposure data for the 30 identified risk factors. Among these, lung, stomach, and cervical cancers accounted for nearly half of the cases linked to modifiable risks. Many of these cases were associated with viruses and bacteria, including the human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that infects the stomach lining.
Dr. Siegel noted the potential for prevention, particularly for cervical and throat cancers, which are directly linked to the HPV virus and can be mitigated through vaccination. “Preventable cancers of the cervix and throat are directly linked to the HPV virus and can be prevented by the HPV vaccine,” he explained.
The study also identified a range of cancers associated with cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Lung cancer, throat cancer, and gastrointestinal cancers were notably linked to smoking, while alcohol consumption was associated with breast, liver, colon, and throat cancers.
Environmental factors play a crucial role in cancer risk, with variations observed by geography. The study indicated that 45% of new cancers could be prevented in men, compared to 30% in women. Hanna Fink, a study author from the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC/WHO, emphasized the significance of the findings, stating, “Almost four in 10 new cancer cases worldwide, which represent 7.1 million lives that don’t need to be changed by a cancer diagnosis, were linked to things we can change or modify through awareness and public-health action.”
Fink pointed out that modifiable factors include tobacco smoking, infections, alcohol consumption, excess body weight, air pollution, and ultraviolet radiation. The researchers advocate for stronger prevention strategies targeting these areas, suggesting that effective public health policies could significantly reduce global cancer cases.
“The study reinforces that cancer prevention works, and action is most effective at the population level,” Fink added. She highlighted the role of governments and communities in facilitating healthier choices, such as implementing higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol, enforcing smoke-free policies, providing clear health warnings, ensuring safer workplaces, improving air quality, and making vaccinations and screenings more accessible.
Dr. Chris Scuderi, a family physician and cancer survivor, emphasized the importance of daily habits in reducing cancer risk. He advocates for regular exercise, restorative sleep, a Mediterranean-style diet, routine medical check-ups, and adequate rest as key prevention strategies. “Small daily wins add up to make a powerful difference over time,” Scuderi stated, underscoring the importance of routine screenings that can be coordinated with a family physician.
While the study presents compelling evidence, it does have limitations. Researchers often relied on data from around 2012 due to the long latency period between exposure and cancer diagnosis, which may not accurately reflect current behaviors or environments. Fink acknowledged this, stating, “This is a necessary simplification, because in reality, latency can be longer or shorter depending on the cancer and the exposure.”
Siegel noted that cancer types vary by geographic region, with stomach cancer being more prevalent in Asia, and the relationships between risk factors and cancer prevalence can differ across countries and populations. “We rely on the best available data on how common each risk factor is in different countries and how strongly it is linked to cancer, but these data are not perfect and are weaker in some low- and middle-income countries,” Fink explained.
Finally, the study focused on 30 risk factors with the strongest evidence and global data. Fink remarked that the estimate of “almost 40% of cancers are preventable” is likely conservative, as other suspected causes, such as certain dietary aspects, could not be included due to insufficient scientific data at a global level. “Our estimate is very likely conservative,” she concluded.
These findings underscore the critical importance of lifestyle choices in cancer prevention and the need for continued public health efforts to mitigate risk factors associated with this disease, according to Fox News Digital.