Nearly 40% of Global Cancer Cases Preventable: WHO

PARIS: (Web Desk) – Nearly four out of every 10 cancer cases worldwide could be prevented by avoiding key risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, air pollution and certain infections, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

According to new research released ahead of World Cancer Day, an estimated 38% of all new cancer cases globally in 2022 — around 7.1 million cases — were linked to preventable causes.

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, was conducted by a large team of researchers including experts from the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The researchers analyzed 30 different risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing cancer.

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Tobacco use emerged as the leading cause, accounting for 15% of all new cancer cases, followed by cancer-causing infections (10%) and alcohol consumption (3%). Other significant risk factors included obesity, physical inactivity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and occupational exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos.

“This is the first global analysis to show how much cancer risk comes from causes we can prevent,” said Andre Ilbawi, the WHO’s team lead for cancer control.

The study found that nearly half of all preventable cancer cases were lung, stomach or cervical cancers. Lung cancer was primarily linked to smoking and air pollution, while stomach cancer was largely associated with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Cervical cancer cases were overwhelmingly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), against which effective vaccines are available.
Men were found to be significantly more affected, with 45% of new cancer cases among men being preventable, compared to 30% among women. Smoking alone accounted for nearly a quarter of preventable cancer cases in men, compared to 11% in women.
To reduce the global cancer burden, researchers urged governments to implement strong tobacco control policies, regulate alcohol consumption, expand vaccination against infections such as HPV, improve air quality, and promote safer workplaces, healthier diets and physical activity.

“If we want to reduce the cancer burden, we also need to reduce the noncommunicable disease burden,” said Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance. “Tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods and poor air quality are major drivers of multiple kinds of cancer.”