WHO researchers assessed 30 risk factors and showed where prevention could save most lives.
Nearly 7 million cancers could have been prevented in a year. This conclusion was made by researchers of the World Health Organization after the largest analysis of risk factors associated with oncology. The main source of the threat has long been known, but scientists warn: it’s not just about cigarettes.
The analysis found that in 2022, almost 19 million new cancer cases were registered in the world. About 38 percent of diagnoses are associated with factors that a person or state can change. The researchers studied 30 reasons, including smoking, alcohol, excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, infections and harmful working conditions.
The most dangerous factor was smoking tobacco again. Cigarettes have been linked to about 15 percent of all cancers in the world. Among men, the indicator was even higher: almost every fourth new diagnosis, scientists associated with smoking.
The researchers emphasize that air pollution also remains a serious threat, with influence heavily dependent on the region. In East Asia, about 15 percent of lung cancers in women have been linked to air pollution. In North Africa and West Asia, air pollution has caused approximately 20 percent of lung cancer cases in men.
The second biggest preventable factor was alcohol. Alcohol consumption was associated with 3.2 percent of all new cancer cases, which is equivalent to about 700 thousand diagnoses per year. According to the authors of the work, smoking and alcohol together give almost half of all preventable cases of oncology.
A separate risk group was infection. About 10 percent of new cancer cases have been linked to viruses and bacteria. Among women, the largest contribution was made by the human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer. The researchers remind that there is already a vaccine against HPV that can prevent many forms of the disease, but the vaccination rate in many countries remains low.
Stomach cancer is more common in men and is often associated simultaneously with smoking and infections, the spread of which is facilitated by poor sanitation, crowded living and a lack of clean water.
The authors of the study consider the results one of the strongest arguments in favor of prevention. According to WHO calculations, almost four out of ten cancers in the world could be prevented by reducing contact with known risk factors. The researchers urge governments to invest more actively in vaccination programs, air pollution control, smoking restrictions and access to basic health care.
Nearly 7 million cancers could have been prevented in a year. This conclusion was made by researchers of the World Health Organization after the largest analysis of risk factors associated with oncology. The main source of the threat has long been known, but scientists warn: it’s not just about cigarettes.
The analysis found that in 2022, almost 19 million new cancer cases were registered in the world. About 38 percent of diagnoses are associated with factors that a person or state can change. The researchers studied 30 reasons, including smoking, alcohol, excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, infections and harmful working conditions.
The most dangerous factor was smoking tobacco again. Cigarettes have been linked to about 15 percent of all cancers in the world. Among men, the indicator was even higher: almost every fourth new diagnosis, scientists associated with smoking.
The researchers emphasize that air pollution also remains a serious threat, with influence heavily dependent on the region. In East Asia, about 15 percent of lung cancers in women have been linked to air pollution. In North Africa and West Asia, air pollution has caused approximately 20 percent of lung cancer cases in men.
The second biggest preventable factor was alcohol. Alcohol consumption was associated with 3.2 percent of all new cancer cases, which is equivalent to about 700 thousand diagnoses per year. According to the authors of the work, smoking and alcohol together give almost half of all preventable cases of oncology.
A separate risk group was infection. About 10 percent of new cancer cases have been linked to viruses and bacteria. Among women, the largest contribution was made by the human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer. The researchers remind that there is already a vaccine against HPV that can prevent many forms of the disease, but the vaccination rate in many countries remains low.
Stomach cancer is more common in men and is often associated simultaneously with smoking and infections, the spread of which is facilitated by poor sanitation, crowded living and a lack of clean water.
The authors of the study consider the results one of the strongest arguments in favor of prevention. According to WHO calculations, almost four out of ten cancers in the world could be prevented by reducing contact with known risk factors. The researchers urge governments to invest more actively in vaccination programs, air pollution control, smoking restrictions and access to basic health care.
