Tobacco smoking is a leading cause of preventable cancer cases.Credit: Jorge Sanz/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty
Nearly 40% of new cancer cases worldwide are potentially preventable, according to a new investigation1 that analyzed dozens of cancer types in almost 200 countries.
LYON, France, February 3, 2024
Nearly 40% of Cancer Cases Globally Are Potentially Preventable
Table of Contents
A new study reveals that roughly seven million cancer diagnoses in 2022 were linked to modifiable risk factors, highlighting the power of prevention.
- Around 38% of the 18.7 million new cancer cases reported in 2022—roughly 7.1 million—were attributable to factors people can change.
- Tobacco smoking remains the biggest preventable contributor to cancer, accounting for around 15% of cases.
- Infections were linked to 10% of preventable cancer cases, while alcohol consumption accounted for 3%.
- Lung, stomach, and cervical cancers comprised nearly half of all preventable cancer cases.
- Avoiding these risk factors is “one of the most powerful ways that we can potentially reduce the future cancer burden,” according to researchers.
Imagine a world where nearly two in five cancer diagnoses could be avoided. That’s the striking conclusion of a new study examining cancer cases across the globe. Researchers found that in 2022, approximately seven million cancer diagnoses were linked to modifiable risk factors – those behaviors and exposures we can change to lower our risk.
A Broader Look at Preventability
Cancer remains a leading cause of illness and death worldwide, and projections indicate cases will continue to rise if current trends persist. Previous research estimated that around 44% of global cancer deaths are attributable to avoidable or controllable causes. However, these estimates often focused on mortality rates or examined single risk factors in isolation, explains study co-author Hanna Fink, a cancer epidemiologist at the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.
To fill this gap, Fink and her team analyzed global case data from 2022, encompassing 36 different cancers across 185 countries. The study considered 30 modifiable risk factors—well-established causes of cancer like tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and infections—and combined this information with data from 2012 detailing people’s exposure to each risk factor. This allowed them to estimate the proportion of cases directly linked to each risk.
The Impact of Lifestyle Choices
In 2022, a total of 18.7 million new cancer cases were diagnosed globally. Roughly 38% – or 7.1 million – could be attributed to preventable causes. Tobacco smoking emerged as the leading contributor, responsible for around 15% of preventable cases. Infections followed, accounting for 10%, and alcohol consumption for 3%. Lung, stomach, and cervical cancers collectively represented nearly half of all preventable cancer cases.
These findings underscore the significant impact of lifestyle choices and preventative measures in reducing the global cancer burden. By addressing modifiable risk factors, we can potentially alter the trajectory of this devastating disease.
