In this study, 30 factors that can lead to the development of cancer and that are preventable were analyzed. Among them are tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, lack of physical activity, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and, for the first time, nine infectious diseases that contribute to the onset of cancer.
According to the analysis, out of 7.1 million new cancer cases registered in 2022, 37% were associated with preventable factors.
The analysis, covering 185 countries, identified tobacco as the leading preventable cause of cancer, accounting for 15% of new cases. This is followed by infections (10%) and alcohol (3%).
According to the study, lung, stomach, and cervical cancers account for nearly half of all preventable cancer cases among men and women worldwide.
Smoking and air pollution have the greatest impact on lung cancer, while stomach cancer is largely associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. Cervical cancer, in turn, is primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The study also showed that men face cancer diseases significantly more often than women: 45% of new cancer cases are registered in men compared to 30% in women. For men, smoking accounted for 23% of new cancer cases, followed by infections (9%) and alcohol (4%). In women, 11% of new cancer cases are associated with infections, 6% with smoking, and 3% with overweight.
Isabelle Surjomataram, deputy head of the cancer epidemiological surveillance department at IARC and one of the study's authors, noted: “This important study represents a comprehensive assessment of preventable cancer cases worldwide, for the first time considering infectious causes alongside behavioral and environmental factors. Addressing these factors is one of the most effective strategies for reducing the global burden of cancer.”
WHO emphasizes that the study's findings indicate the need to develop preventive strategies that take local conditions into account. Important directions include combating smoking, regulating alcohol consumption, vaccinating against carcinogenic infections such as HPV and hepatitis B virus, improving air quality, creating safe working conditions, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
