Up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide can be prevented, according to a joint statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) following a new global analysis.
According to the authors’ estimates, 37% of all new cancer cases in 2022, or about 7.1 million cases, were linked to preventable causes. The analysis covers 30 modifiable risk factors, including tobacco, alcohol, high body mass index, low physical activity, air pollution, and ultraviolet radiation, as well as, for the first time, nine infections that can cause cancer.
The WHO indicates that tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of cancer (about 15% of new cases), followed by infections (about 10%) and alcohol consumption (about 3%). Lung, stomach, and cervical cancer are among the most significant contributors to preventable morbidity.
The organization notes that the proportion of preventable cases is higher in men than in women – 45% versus 30%. Regional differences are also significant: among men, the highest proportion is recorded in East Asia (57%), the lowest in Latin America and the Caribbean (28%), and among women, the range is from 24% in North Africa and West Asia to 38% in sub-Saharan Africa.
WHO and IARC emphasize the need for prevention, including strengthening tobacco control policies, alcohol regulation, HPV and hepatitis B vaccination, improving air quality, improving occupational safety, and creating a healthier environment for nutrition and physical activity.
