Nearly 40% of cancer cases worldwide are preventable

February 4th is World Cancer Day every year. The World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer released the latest global research report on the 3rd, stating that nearly 40% of cancer cases worldwide can be prevented.

The report estimates that approximately 37.8% (7.1 million cases) of all new cancer cases in 2022 are related to preventable factors, highlighting the enormous potential of prevention in reducing the global burden of cancer.

The report states that the new study investigated 30 preventable carcinogenic factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, high body mass index (BMI), lack of physical exercise, air pollution, and 9 carcinogenic infections. The study covers data from multiple countries and 36 types of cancer worldwide, and identifies smoking as the leading preventable carcinogenic factor globally, accounting for 15% of all new cancer cases, followed by infection (10%) and alcohol consumption (3%).

Globally, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and cervical cancer account for nearly half of all preventable cancer cases. Lung cancer is mainly related to smoking and air pollution, gastric cancer is largely attributed to Helicobacter pylori infection, and cervical cancer is mostly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

This is the first global analysis to reveal how much cancer risk comes from factors that we can prevent, "said Dr. Ilbavi, head of the WHO Cancer Control Group and author of the report." By analyzing cancer patterns in different countries and populations, we can provide more specific information for governments and individuals around the world to help prevent many cancer cases

The report shows that the proportion of preventable cancer cases in men is much higher than in women, accounting for about 45% of new cancer cases in men and about 30% in women. About 23% of all new cancer cases in males are related to smoking, followed by infections (9%) and alcohol consumption (4%). About 11% of all new cancer cases in women are related to infections, followed by smoking (6%) and high BMI (3%).

The research findings emphasize the need to develop tailored prevention strategies, including implementing effective tobacco control measures, regulating alcohol use, administering relevant vaccines to prevent HPV and other viral infections, improving air quality, enhancing workplace safety, and promoting healthier eating habits.