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Amid rising cancer cases across the world, a new study by the American Cancer Society has revealed that nearly half of all cancer deaths in the US could be prevented by lifestyle modifications. The research says that nearly 40% of new cancer cases in adults and nearly half of all cancer deaths could be attributed to preventable risk factors.
According to Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer for the American Cancer Society, most preventable risk factors are those that people can avoid by making lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of cancer.
What is cancer?
According to the US National Cancer Institute, cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the body grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. The uncontrolled growth of cells can begin anywhere in the body. A breakdown of the orderly process of cell formation and destruction in the human body leads to the formation of tumors, which are lumps of tissue. Tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous.
What causes cancer?
DNA damage is one of the major causes of cancer development. Another factor influencing cancer risk is genetics or environmental factors, which can also cause biological conditions. Among all these factors, modifiable risks contribute to a significant portion of cancer cases and deaths than any other known factors, CNN reported citing the research report.
Smoking is one of the major causes of cancer
The research found that smoking is one of the leading risk factors for causing cancer in most patients, highlighting that smoking is responsible for approximately 1 in 5 cancer cases and nearly one-third of cancer deaths in the US.
Other major risk factors include obesity, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, diet and infections such as HPV. The study analysed 18 modifiable risk factors across 30 types of cancer and highlighted their association with 7,00,000 new cancer cases and over 2,62,000 deaths.
Cancer incidence and their relation with lifestyle changes
An article published in the American Cancer Society concludes, “It is estimated that 40% of all cancer cases and nearly half of all cancer deaths in the United States in 2019 were attributable to assessed potentially modifiable risk factors.”
The article also suggests the implementation of preventive initiatives such as excise taxes on cigarettes, testing and treatment for HCV infection, and vaccination against HPV infection to reduce smoking.
The research also highlights the need to change the common perception about cancer that no one has control over it.
“With cancer, a lot of times it feels like you have no control. People think about bad luck or bad genetics, but people need to feel a sense of control and agency,” CNN quoted Dr. Kamal as saying.
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Published: July 12, 2024, 02:43 PM IST
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