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Writer's pictureSaneka Chakravarty, MD, FACC

44% of cancer deaths are preventable

Updated: Aug 8, 2023

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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