Seven Million Cancers a Year Are Preventable
Friday, 2026/02/06166 words3 minutes542 reads
A new global study reveals that seven million cancer cases each year could be prevented. Scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 37% of cancers are caused by factors people can control or avoid.
The research examined 30 preventable risk factors across 185 countries. The top three causes were tobacco smoking (3.3 million cases), infections like HPV and hepatitis (2.3 million cases), and alcohol consumption (700,000 cases). Other factors include air pollution, obesity, and lack of physical activity.
Interestingly, there's a significant gender difference. About 45% of men's cancers are preventable compared to 30% in women, largely due to higher smoking rates among men. The preventable causes also vary by region. In Europe, smoking is the leading cause, while in sub-Saharan Africa, infections account for nearly 80% of preventable cancers in women.
Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, deputy head of the IARC Cancer Surveillance Unit, called this a "powerful opportunity" to reduce cancer worldwide. She emphasized that addressing these preventable causes could transform millions of lives.
