Four in Ten Cancer Cases Linked to Preventable Behaviors, Global Study Finds
A new global report led by the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with experts from Japan and Canada, reveals that 40% of cancer diagnoses worldwide are attributable to modifiable risk factors. This finding underscores the significant impact lifestyle and environmental factors have on cancer development and highlights opportunities for prevention.
The study, published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, analyzed data from 185 countries, concluding that approximately 7.1 million of the 20 million new cancer cases recorded in 2022 were directly linked to behaviors and exposures that can be changed.
Global Snapshot of Preventable Risk
The research confirms that tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of cancer, accounting for 15.1% of diagnoses. Among men, the impact of smoking was even more pronounced, linked to 23% of new cases. These findings reinforce the well-established link between tobacco utilize and numerous cancers.
Infections were the second most common global risk factor (10%), whereas alcohol accounted for 3.2% of diagnoses, equating to nearly 700,000 cases annually. The burden of alcohol-related cancer was significantly higher in men (45% of preventable cases) compared to women (30%).
Lung, stomach, and cervical cancers accounted for nearly half of all preventable cases. Lung cancer was closely tied to smoking and environmental pollution, gastric cancer to the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, and cervical cancer to the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Dr. André Ilbawi, from the WHO’s cancer control team, emphasized that This represents the first global analysis to accurately quantify the amount of risk stemming from preventable causes. “This recognition is a crucial step in prioritizing cancer prevention efforts worldwide,” he said.
Tobacco and Alcohol Under Scrutiny
Experts agree that quitting smoking is one of the most impactful decisions individuals can make to reduce their cancer risk. Dr. José Luis Morero, from the Alexander Fleming Institute, explained that 84% of lung cancers have a history of smoking. Even those who smoke a few cigarettes a month face a higher risk than those who have never smoked.
- The American Cancer Society cautions that cigars, pipes, and “light” cigarettes are not safe alternatives, as all increase risk, including menthol products which can facilitate deeper, more harmful inhalations.
Regarding alcohol, the WHO maintains that no level of consumption is without risk. Ethanol and its byproducts can damage DNA and disrupt hormones, increasing the likelihood of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast, and colon, among others.
The American Association for Cancer Research reinforced this warning, noting that 40% of cancers are associated with modifiable factors and that limiting alcohol consumption is a key measure.
New Factors on the Map
The report expanded the traditional view by incorporating 30 risk factors. These include exposure to carcinogens in workplaces, emerging viral infections, environmental pollution, and insufficient breastfeeding.
- In Latin America and the Caribbean, the situation is particularly concerning: around 28% of cases in men and nearly 30% in women are linked to avoidable causes.
Experts emphasize that prevention strategies must be tailored to the social and economic characteristics of each country. Vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B, treatment of infections like Helicobacter pylori, regulation of tobacco and alcohol, promotion of healthy habits, reduction of overweight, and increased physical activity are all part of a comprehensive approach.
Strengthening screening and early detection programs, as well as investing in epidemiological surveillance systems to measure progress and adjust public policies, are as well recommended.
Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, stated that addressing these preventable causes represents one of the most important opportunities to reduce the global cancer burden.
The message is clear: cancer is not solely a matter of chance or genetics. In millions of cases, it is deeply connected to daily decisions and effective public policies. Prevention, more than a slogan, is becoming the most powerful tool for saving lives.
