‘Over one-third of cancers worldwide may be preventable’, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• A global analysis in Nature Medicine reveals that approximately 38% of the 18.7 million cancer cases in 2022 were linked to modifiable risk factors.
• The study, covering 185 countries and 36 cancer types, examined 30 preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and infections.
• Smoking was identified as the single largest contributor, accounting for 15.1% of new cancer cases globally.
• Preventable risks accounted for 45.4% of cancers among men and 29.7% among women.

Detailed Insights:

• The study used risk-factor prevalence data from around 2012 to account for the time lag between exposure and cancer diagnosis.
• In low- and middle-income countries, HPV and Helicobacter pylori infections were key drivers of cancer among women, while in higher-income regions, smoking and high BMI were more significant.
• East Asia had almost six in 10 cancers among men linked to modifiable risks, while in sub-Saharan Africa, infections accounted for nearly one-third of cancer cases among women.
• Public health strategies like tobacco control, vaccinations, improved air quality, safer working conditions, and healthier lifestyles can effectively tackle cancer risk factors.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of body fat based on height and weight.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV): A common viral infection that can cause certain types of cancer.
• Helicobacter pylori: A bacterium that can infect the stomach and cause inflammation, increasing the risk of stomach cancer.