Healthy Habits Could Prevent Nearly Half of Cancer Cases, Study Finds …C0NTINUE READING HERE >>>
Key Takeaways
An American Cancer Society study found that 40% of all cancer cases in the U.S. are due to modifiable risk factors like smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption.While some cancers are hereditary, genetic factors account for only 5–10% of cancers, with lifestyle factors being the primary contributors to cancer risk.
A recent study by researchers from the American Cancer Society adds data to the longstanding body of research that shows lifestyle factors ranging from drinking alcohol to not exercising are major factors in developing cancer.
According to the study, 40% of all cancer cases and about half of cancers in adults age 30 and older in the United States can be attributed to modifiable risk factors, including cigarette smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet, and infections such as HPV, which can cause cervical and other cancers.
In fact, that 40% may be an undercount.
“Add in factors for which we don’t have enough data yet, such as the impact of water and air pollution, and lifestyle factors may be [responsible for] 60% or higher,” lead study author Farhad Islami, MD, PhD, Senior Scientific Director for Cancer Disparity Research at the American Cancer Society told Verywell.
Cigarette smoking was by far the leading risk factor, contributing to nearly 20% of all cancer cases and 30% of all cancer deaths.
The researchers did not look at what percentage of cancers are caused by genetics or exposure to carcinogenic chemicals. Islami said in many cases, even if a person has a genetic predisposition to a type of cancer, that risk can be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Preventive measures can greatly reduce risk, too, such as making sure you have regular mammograms if you have a family history of breast cancer.
“These findings show there is a continued need to increase equitable access to preventive health care and awareness about preventive measures,” said study senior author Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD, Senior Vice President of Surveillance and Health Equity Science at the American Cancer Society, in a statement.
What You Can Control
According to the American Cancer Society, modifiable risk factors to help prevent cancer include:
Stopping or never starting to smoke
Reducing or eliminating alcohol
Maintaining a healthy weight
Getting your HPV vaccinations
Getting regular skin cancer checks, avoiding UV radiation, and using sunscreen
Getting screened for colon cancer, using both home stool tests and a colonoscopy every 10 years
Getting mammograms to check for breast cancer every other year
Islami suggests talking to your doctor about how to tackle modifiable risk factors since it’s difficult to take all these measures at once. In fact, you may not be eligible for each of these precautions. For instance, most women may be unable to get a mammogram before age 40—or get it covered by insurance if they are able to secure one. That’s because the U.S. Preventive Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation for mammograms doesn’t start until age 40. Similarly, for people of average risk for colon cancer, a colonoscopy isn’t recommended until age 45.
What You Can’t Control
Some cancers are hereditary. But Huma Rana, MD, MPH, Clinical Director of Cancer Genetics and Prevention at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, emphasizes that not many are.
“The vast majority of cancer occur by chance due to what we call ‘sporadic mutations,’ and it’s only 5% to 10% that are due to genes that we’re born with,” Rana said in a podcast and confirmed to Verywell.
Most people who have a family history of cancer are not at increased risk for developing cancers because most cancers aren’t the result of inherited susceptibility.
However, there are exceptions.
Lynch syndrome is a hereditary condition linked to higher susceptibility to colorectal cancer and uterine cancer. It’s responsible for about 3% of all colorectal cancers. According to the National Cancer Institute, Lynch syndrome affects about 1 out of every 280 Americans.
Separately, people who’ve inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations have an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, among others. Roughly 1 in 400 people are living with a BRCA mutation, upping their risk of developing breast cancer to over 60%, compared to 13% in the general population.
Genetic testing can determine if you have inherited either Lynch syndrome or a BRCA mutation, as well as your individual cancer risk from these genetic traits. You may be able to undergo more frequent or earlier screenings for the relevant cancer types.
Still, Michael Crupain, MD, MPH, a regent at large for the American College of Preventive Medicine and a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said cancer risk is generally “not about the genetic code you were given; it’s how that genetic code gets modified by lifestyle.”
What This Means For You
This study underscores the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing alcohol consumption, to significantly lower your cancer risk. By focusing on modifiable risk factors, you can take proactive steps to prevent cancer and improve your overall health.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al. Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019. CA Cancer J Clin. Published online July 11, 2024. doi:10.3322/caac.21858
Shaukat A, Kahi CJ, Burke CA, Rabeneck L, Sauer BG, Rex DK. ACG clinical guidelines: colorectal cancer screening 2021. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(3):458-479. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001122
US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al. Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2024;331(22):1918-1930. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534
National Cancer Institute. The genetics of cancer.
American Cancer Society. Colorectal cancer risk factors.
National Cancer Institute. Could a vaccine prevent colorectal cancer in people with Lynch syndrome?.
National Cancer Institute. BRCA gene changes: cancer risk and genetic testing.
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