Nearly half of cancer deaths and 40% of cancer cases are caused by preventable factors, new study shows

One New study A study from the American Cancer Society (ACS) has found that a large number of cancer cases and deaths in adults aged 30 and older are due to avoidable factors, such as tobacco use and poor diet.

The results revealed that 40% of cases and about half of all cancer deaths in the United States are attributed to controllable factors.

The researchers analyzed incidence and mortality rates for 30 types of cancer in relation to 18 modifiable risk factors.

“A significant number of cancer cases and deaths in the United States are attributable to modifiable risk factors, suggesting that the cancer burden could be significantly reduced through widespread and equitable implementation of prevention initiatives,” Dr. Farhad Islami, lead author of the report, told Euronews Health.

Factors included in the study ranged from cigarette consumption, excess body weight and alcohol consumption, to consumption of red and processed meats, and low intake of fruits and vegetables, dietary fiber and dietary calcium.

Other factors were physical inactivity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and cancer-causing infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV).

Smoking has been identified as the leading risk factor and was responsible for 20% of all cancer cases and 30% of cancer deaths in the United States.

This was followed by increased body weight and alcohol consumption.

For cancer cases alone, the following factors included ultraviolet radiation, physical inactivity, human papillomavirus infection, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, and consumption of processed meats.

For cancer deaths, the critical factors in order of importance were physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable consumption, ultraviolet radiation, HPV infection, and processed meat consumption.

Islami explained that even if a factor is strongly cancer-causing, if it is rare, it will only lead to a small number of cancer cases overall.

Reducing the risk of cancer due to modifiable factors

According to Islami, understanding the number of cancer cases and deaths due to preventable factors is useful for identifying better cancer prevention initiatives and increasing public awareness of risk factors.

To reduce the risk of cancer, Islami points out that people can take measures at the individual level, avoiding or reducing exposure to these risk factors.

Furthermore, on a broader level, it may also be beneficial to increase equitable access to preventive health care and raise public awareness of prevention methods.

“In the case of smoking, for example, people who currently smoke can reduce their health risks by stopping smoking. Health care providers can also provide guidance on how to stop smoking,” he added.

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Recommendations to reduce the risk of developing or dying from cancer include avoiding the use of any tobacco products and encouraging smokers to stop smoking.

Other measures include following dietary guidelines, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy body weight, and limiting excessive exposure to sunlight.

It is also recommended to keep necessary vaccinations up to date, such as those for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV).

“Vaccination at the recommended time can significantly reduce the risk of chronic infection and, consequently, cancers associated with these viruses,” Ahmedin Jamal said in a recent study. statement.

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