Almost half of cancers could be avoided by eliminating three key risk factors, a new study has found.
A study published this week in Nature Medicine found that about 40% Number of cancer patients worldwide It is associated with smoking (15% of new infections), infectious diseases (10%), and alcohol use (3%).
Overall, 7.1 million cancer diagnoses in 2022 were associated with 30 modifiable risk factors, the study said.
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“The takeaway here is that almost half of all cancers are preventable through behavioral changes,” Dr. Mark Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News Digital, told Fox News Digital.
The study, conducted by the World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), analyzed global cancer data from 185 countries and matched it with exposure data for 30 risk factors.
Lung, stomach, and cervical cancer account for almost half of the cases associated with modifiable risks, many of which are associated with risks such as: viruses and bacteria These include human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori (a common bacteria that infects the lining of the stomach).
“Preventable cervical and throat cancers are directly related to the HPV virus and can be prevented with the HPV vaccine,” added Professor Siegel, who was not involved in the study.
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Lung cancer, throat cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and several other cancers are linked to smoking. alcohol was involved Doctors indicated that she had breast cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, and throat cancer.
“Environmental factors are also important and vary by region. We could prevent 45% of new cancers in men and 30% in women,” he said.
Study author Hannah Fink from the IARC/WHO Cancer Surveillance Division said the main message is that many cancers are preventable.
“Nearly 4 in 10 new cases of cancer worldwide, equating to 7.1 million lives that don’t need to be changed by a cancer diagnosis, were linked to things we can change or fix through awareness and effort.” public health activities” she told FOX News Digital.
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“These include smoking, infectious diseases, alcohol consumption, excess weight, air pollution, and ultraviolet radiation.”
Looking to the future, researchers are developing a more powerful prevention strategy Targeting tobacco use, infectious diseases, unhealthy weight, and alcohol use could significantly reduce cancer cases worldwide.
“This study confirms that cancer prevention is effective and that interventions are most effective at the population level,” Fink said.
“Governments and communities play an important role by making it easier to make healthy choices, for example through increased tobacco and alcohol taxes. No smoking policyclear health warnings, safer workplaces, cleaner air, and affordable access to vaccinations and testing. Individuals can support these by advocating for healthier environments and taking advantage of available preventive services. ”
The AIRC offers the following recommendations to minimize cancer risk.
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“As a family physician, I strive to help my patients understand how important daily habits are to lowering their future cancer risk,” said Dr. Chris Scuderi, a cancer survivor and Florida-based family physician.
Physicians’ main prevention goals include consistent daily exercise; restorative sleepa Mediterranean-style diet, regular doctor visits, and plenty of rest.
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“Small daily wins add up and make a big difference over time,” added Scuderi, who was also not involved in the study. “It’s also important to continue to have regular check-ups. Your GP will be able to support you.”
This study had several limitations. Researchers often use data from around 2012 because of the long time between exposure and cancer, meaning the data may not reflect current behaviors and environments.
“This is a necessary simplification because in reality, the incubation period can be longer or shorter depending on the cancer and the amount of exposure,” Fink said.
Siegel noted that cancer types vary by geographic region. for example, stomach cancer It is more pronounced in Asia, and the relationship between risk factors and cancer incidence may vary by country, population, and time period.
“How common each risk factor is in each country and how strong the association with cancer is depends on the best available data, but these data are not perfect and data are weak in some low- and middle-income countries,” Fink said.
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Finally, this study only investigated the 30 risk factors with the strongest evidence and global data.
“Our estimate that ‘almost 40% of cancers are preventable’ is very likely conservative,” the researchers added. “Other suspected causes, e.g. dietary aspectsIt could not be included because the science and data are not yet robust enough at a global level. ”
