The study examines data from 185 countries on 36 different types of cancer and evaluates the impact of 30 preventable risk factors, including:
- tobacco and alcohol use;
- overweight;
- lack of physical activity;
- air pollution and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Main Causes
Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of cancer, causing 15% of all new cases. In second place are infectious diseases, responsible for 10% of new diagnoses. Rounding out the top three is alcohol consumption, which accounts for three percent.- For instance, lung cancer is most often caused by smoking and environmental pollution, stomach cancer is linked to Helicobacter pylori infection, and cervical cancer is associated with the human papillomavirus.
It was also found that there is a significant difference between men and women: among men, preventable factors account for 45% of new cancer cases, while among women, it is only 30%.
The authors of the study emphasize that effective prevention requires consideration of local conditions and the implementation of measures to control the sale of tobacco and alcohol, vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B, improving air quality, enhancing workplace safety, as well as creating conditions for healthy eating and physical activity.
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