A groundbreaking new study by the American Cancer Society underscores the significant impact lifestyle choices have on cancer prevention, revealing that up to 40% of new cancer cases and 44% of cancer deaths in adults could be prevented by avoiding high-risk behaviors. These behaviors include smoking, excessive drinking, and being dangerously overweight.
The American Cancer Society’s study estimates that 40% of the nearly 1.8 million cancer cases in adults over 30 in 2019 were linked to potentially preventable risk factors. These included smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, and exposure to UV radiation. The study, which analyzed 30 types of cancer, also emphasized the role of infections like HPV and hepatitis B, which can be mitigated through vaccines and other preventive measures.
The research identifies several high-risk behaviors as major contributors to cancer:
Cigarette Smoking: Responsible for 19.3% of cancer cases.
Excess Body Weight: Linked to 7.6% of cancer cases.
Alcohol Consumption: Contributing to 5.4% of cancer cases.
Exposure to UV Radiation: A factor in 4.6% of cases.
Lung cancer remains the most common cancer linked to preventable risks, with 104,410 cases in men and 97,250 cases in women in 2019 alone. Skin melanoma and colorectal cancer are also heavily impacted by these preventable risk factors.
Farad Islami, the study’s lead author and senior scientific director at the American Cancer Society, emphasized that despite progress in reducing smoking rates, lung cancer deaths continue to be a serious concern. The study highlights the urgent need for stronger tobacco control policies and early detection efforts to combat lung cancer.
In addition to lifestyle changes, the study stresses the importance of vaccination programs for hepatitis B and HPV. These vaccines are vital in preventing cancers caused by viral infections, including liver cancer, cervical cancer, and cancers of the mouth and throat.
Read more:
- Is Drinking Alcohol Safe? Experts Explain The Cancer Risks And What You Can Do
- FDA Bans Red No. 3, Synthetic Dye Linked To Cancer In Animals
- Study Reveals Drinking Milk Daily Could Cut Bowel Cancer Risk By 17%
