A recent study reveals that about 40% of new cancer cases among adults aged 30 and older in the United States, and nearly half of the deaths, can be linked to preventable risk factors.
Key Findings:
- In 2019, nearly 1 in 5 new cancer cases in US adults over 30 were due to smoking.
- Other significant risk factors include excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet, and infections such as HPV.
- Researchers examined 18 modifiable risk factors across 30 types of cancer. These factors contributed to over 700,000 new cancer cases and more than 262,000 deaths in 2019.
Expert Insights: Experts emphasise that many cancers grow due to DNA damage or certain fuel sources in the body. They note that people can change their daily habits to lower their risk of cancer.
Cancer Types and Risk Factors:
- Lung cancer had the highest number of cases attributable to modifiable risk factors, primarily smoking.
- Excess body weight was the second-largest contributor, particularly affecting cancers of the endometrium, gallbladder, oesophagus, liver, and kidney.
- For 19 out of the 30 cancer types studied, modifiable risk factors were linked to over half of new cases. For example, more than 90% of melanoma cases were linked to ultraviolet radiation, and nearly all cervical cancer cases were related to HPV, preventable by vaccination.
Preventive Measures: Health officials highlight the importance of addressing core behavioural risk factors like smoking, diet, and physical activity to significantly reduce the rates and outcomes of chronic diseases, including cancer.
Policy Recommendations: Experts advocate for policies that create environments where healthy choices are easy to make. This is crucial for people living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods where access to safe exercise spaces and healthy food is limited.
Conclusion: Making lifestyle changes can substantially reduce cancer risk. Experts note that cancer is a risk faced every day, and reducing these risks can provide daily benefits.