A recent illuminating article from The Lancet delves into the realm of preventable risk factors for cancer, casting a spotlight on measures we can take to safeguard our health.
This comprehensive study spanned 204 countries, casting a wide net to encompass an array of risks ranging from smoking to workplace exposures.
Its findings resonate with hope, unveiling that a significant 44.4% of cancer-related deaths and 42% of cancer-related disabilities (DALYs/disability-adjusted life years) are indeed preventable.
However, between 2010 and 2019, an unsettling 20% surge in cancer-related deaths attributed to these avoidable factors came to light.
On a global scale, the primary preventable culprits emerged as follows:
1. Tobacco use, contributing to 36% of cancer deaths in men and 12% in women.
2. Alcohol consumption, accounting for 6.9% of cancer deaths in men and 2.3% in women.
3. Elevated Body Mass Index (BMI), associated with 4.2% of cancer deaths in men and 5.2% in women. Learn more about BMI here: https://www.preventiononly.com/post/why-you-can-t-give-up-trying-to-lose-weight
In lower to middle-income countries, unsafe sexual practices ranked among the top three contributors, causing 6.5% of cancer-related deaths in women.
Notably absent from this initiative were a few critical causes of cancer, including ultraviolet radiation exposure and infectious agents. To provide some perspective, infections were responsible for 10% of new cancers worldwide in 2018. The complex interplay between diet and cancer is a challenge to study impartially, often thwarted by inherent biases.
The question arises: What proactive steps can be taken?
- If you or a cherished one is grappling with smoking, commence the journey towards quitting today. The path may be arduous, yet it is far from insurmountable.
- Moderating alcohol consumption stands as a pivotal measure.
- Strive to maintain a healthy BMI. While the road may be strewn with challenges, surmounting them is far from an impossibility.
- Embrace vaccination against cancer-causing viruses, with a special emphasis on Hepatitis B and the human papillomavirus.
- Prioritize safer sexual practices.
- Engage in regular screenings.
- If sunlight beckons, opt for protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
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