Seven Million Cancers a Year Are Preventable
Friday, 2026/02/06246 words4 minutes541 reads
The first comprehensive global analysis of preventable cancer has revealed that seven million cases annually—representing 37% of all cancers—could be avoided through addressing modifiable risk factors. Conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, the study examined 30 preventable factors known to elevate cancer risk across 185 countries.
The research identified tobacco smoking as the predominant contributor, accounting for 3.3 million cases, followed by infections (2.3 million) and alcohol consumption (700,000). The analysis incorporated diverse risk factors including carcinogens that directly damage DNA, such as tobacco smoke and ultraviolet radiation; metabolic factors like obesity and physical inactivity that alter inflammation and hormonal profiles; and environmental pollutants including air pollution, which recent research suggests can activate dormant cancer cells.
The findings reveal striking disparities across gender and geography. Men face a 45% preventable cancer rate compared to 30% in women, primarily attributable to higher tobacco use. Regional variations are equally pronounced: in European women, smoking, infections, and obesity constitute the primary preventable causes, whereas 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, characterized the study as a "landmark" assessment that uniquely integrates infectious causes with behavioral, environmental, and occupational risks. She emphasized that addressing these preventable factors represents "one of the most powerful opportunities to reduce the global cancer burden," with lung, stomach, and cervical cancers comprising nearly half of all preventable cases.
