Scientists find that up to four in 10 cancer cases worldwide may be preventable.In a recent study, researchers identified 30 preventable cancer causes, with tobacco, infections, and alcohol being among the biggest culprits.An oncologist explains what the findings mean for you.<\/p>\n
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death<\/a> worldwide, and rates of the disease are continuing to increase in people under 50<\/a>, which may leave you wondering what you can do to reduce your risk. It turns out that making a few lifestyle tweaks could be a large part of the answer. New research suggests that up to four in 10 cancer cases worldwide may be prevented by adjusting eight specific lifestyle factors.<\/p>\n Meet the expert: Amar Rewari, M.D., chief of radiation oncology for Luminis Health and host of the Value Health Voices Podcast<\/a><\/p>\n After examining 30 causes of cancer deemed preventable as they may be avoided through behavioral changes, the study, published in Nature Medicine<\/a>, estimated that 37% of 18.7 million new cancer cases in 2022 were attributed to preventable risk factors. The exact breakdown of cancer causes varied significantly by sex. Around 30% of cancer cases in women and 45% in men were deemed preventable.<\/p>\n Ahead, an oncologist breaks down the findings and what they mean for you.<\/p>\n What are the leading preventable causes of cancer?<\/p>\n The researchers identified several behavioral, environmental, and occupational cancer risk factors. The most prevalent causes, according to the study, include:<\/p>\n Tobacco smokingAlcohol consumptionObesityInsufficient physical activitySmokeless tobacco useAir pollutionUltraviolet radiationInfection <\/p>\n The causes that appeared most often differed by region. \u201cIn higher-income countries, lifestyle factors like smoking, obesity, and alcohol play a larger role, while in lower-resource settings, infection-related cancers remain a major driver,\u201d explains Amar Rewari, M.D., chief of radiation oncology for Luminis Health and host of the Value Health Voices Podcast<\/a>. <\/p>\n The study outlines how cancer-causing infections may arise in lower-resource countries as early-life chronic infections that go untreated, brought on by overcrowding, poor sanitation practices, and lack of access to clean water, or as a result of low vaccine availability. Stomach cancer diagnoses associated with H. Pylori, a stomach infection, were particularly prevalent in areas of Japan and Korea, for example, while liver cancer diagnoses associated with hepatitis B and C infections were heavily represented in Africa. In both cases, increased access to vaccines and screenings has already led to a reduction in prevalence, though there\u2019s still a long way to go.\u201cThis highlights the need for prevention strategies that are tailored to where people live and the risks they face, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach,\u201d Dr. Rewari says.<\/p>\n Why are the findings significant?<\/p>\n