A new study from the American Cancer Society has linked six key lifestyle factors to an increased risk of developing 67 types of cancer, with the potential to influence nearly 40% of cancer cases in the U.S. and contributing to almost half of all cancer-related deaths. The research, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, analysed data from hundreds of thousands of cases in 2019 and identified cigarette smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor diet, and infections as major contributors to cancer risk. Among these, cigarette smoking was found to be the most significant factor, responsible for nearly 20% of all cancer cases and 30% of deaths, affecting both men and women. Excess body weight accounted for 7.6% of cases, while alcohol consumption was linked to 5.4% of cases. UV radiation exposure, mainly linked to skin cancers like melanoma, contributed to 4.6% of cases, and physical inactivity was responsible for 3.1%.
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The study also found that these risk factors were especially significant for certain cancer types, including cervical cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, melanoma, lung, throat, mouth, and anal cancers, which had over 80% of cases linked to these modifiable factors. Lung cancer showed the highest number of cases attributed to lifestyle factors in both men and women. For men, bladder cancer and colorectal cancer were also highly influenced by these risk factors, while breast and endometrial cancers were prominent among women.
This research emphasizes the need for public health initiatives aimed at reducing smoking, improving diets, promoting physical activity, and limiting alcohol consumption to lower the risk of cancer. Lead researcher Professor Claudia Langenberg of Queen Mary University of London highlighted the importance of focusing on preventable factors to reduce cancer risk and improve overall health outcomes. By addressing these lifestyle factors, there is potential to significantly reduce the number of cancer cases and improve survival rates.
