Nearly half of all cancer deaths and four in 10 cancer cases in adults aged 30 years and older could be attributed to lifestyle choices, finds a US study published in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The researchers analysed nationally representative data on cancer incidence and mortality and risk factors to estimate the number of cancer cases and deaths that can be attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors for 30 cancer types. The modifiable risk factors included smoking, excess weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet, ultraviolet radiation and seven carcinogenic infections.
Smoking was the leading risk factor, contributing to 30 per cent of all cancer deaths and nearly 20 per cent of all cancer cases (56.0 per cent of all potentially preventable cancers in men and 39.9 per cent in women) followed by excess body weight, alcohol consumption, UV radiation exposure and physical inactivity.
In 19 of 30 cancer types analysed, more than half the cases and deaths were due to potentially modifiable risk factors.
Lung cancer had the highest number of cases and deaths attributable to evaluated risk factors, followed by female breast cancer, skin melanoma and colorectal cancer for attributable cases, and colorectal, liver and oesophageal cancer for attributable deaths.
All cervical cancer cases can be prevented by vaccinating against human papillomavirus (HPV).
“Effective vaccines are available for hepatitis B virus, which causes liver cancer and HPV, which can cause several cancer types, including cervical, other anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers,” said the study. “Vaccination at the recommended time can substantially reduce the risk of chronic infection, and consequently, cancers associated with these viruses.”
