Nearly half of cancer deaths and 40 percent of cases in the United States are linked to preventable factors, according to a new study.
a New Research A study by the American Cancer Society (ACS) found that many cancer cases and deaths among adults aged 30 and older are due to potentially preventable factors, such as smoking and unhealthy diets.
The findings revealed that 40 percent of cancer cases and approximately half of all cancer deaths in the United States are attributable to controllable factors.
The researchers analyzed incidence and mortality rates of 30 types of cancer in relation to 18 modifiable risk factors.
“Many cancer cases and deaths in the United States are attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors, suggesting that widespread and equitable implementation of prevention measures could significantly reduce the cancer burden,” Dr. Farhad Islami, lead author of the study, told Euronews Health.
Factors included in the study range from smoking, being overweight and drinking alcohol to eating red and processed meat, and inadequate intake of fruits, vegetables, dietary fibre and dietary calcium.
Other contributing factors include lack of physical activity, ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and cancer-causing infections such as the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Smoking has been identified as the leading risk factor, responsible for 20% of all cancer cases and 30% of cancer deaths in the United States.
This was followed by being overweight and drinking alcohol.
Looking just at cancer, the next contributing factors include ultraviolet light, lack of exercise, HPV infection, lack of fruit and vegetable intake, and consumption of processed meat.
With regard to cancer death, the important factors, in order of importance, were lack of physical activity, low fruit and vegetable intake, exposure to ultraviolet light, HPV infection, and consumption of processed meat.
Islami also explained that even if a factor is a strong cause of cancer, if it is rare, it will result in only a small number of cancer cases overall.
However, common factors with weaker effects may lead to increased incidence of cancer.
Reducing Cancer Risk Through Modifiable Factors
Understanding the number of cancer cases and deaths caused by preventable factors will help set better cancer prevention efforts and increase public awareness about risk factors, Islami said.
To lower cancer risk, people can take action at an individual level by avoiding or reducing exposure to these risk factors, he suggested.
Additionally, at a broader level, increasing equitable access to preventive health care and raising awareness about prevention methods may also be beneficial.
advertisement“For example, in the case of smoking, current smokers can reduce their health risks by quitting, and health care providers can also provide advice on quitting smoking,” he said.
Recommendations to reduce the risk of getting or dying from cancer include avoiding the use of all tobacco products and, if you are a smoker, quitting smoking.
Other measures include following dietary guidelines, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting excessive sun exposure.
Continuing necessary vaccinations, including for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HPV, was also recommended.
advertisement“Vaccination at the recommended time can significantly reduce the risk of chronic infection and, therefore, the risk of cancer associated with these viruses,” said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, lead author of the study. statement.
