About half of all cancers in the world are due to a certain risk factor, and tobacco and alcohol are at the top of the list, according to a recent large study. Prevention measures are essential but they are not a panacea either, the authors warn.
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“According to our analysis, 44.41% of cancer deaths in the world (…) can be attributed to a certain risk factor,” considers this study, published in the Lancet journal as part of a global project, Global Burden of Disease.
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Thousands of researchers around the world are involved in this vast project, funded by the Bill Gates Foundation, and of unprecedented breadth.
The objective is to deepen the knowledge regarding cancer risk factors by region. The first conclusions confirm that tobacco is the first factor that favors cancer (33.9%), followed by alcohol (7.4%) throughout the planet.
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However, approximately half of cancers are not attributable to a certain risk factor, which shows that prevention is not enough. Early diagnosis and effective treatment must be the other two pillars of an intelligent health policy.
According to the National Cancer Institute, in general, it is not possible to know exactly why one person gets cancer and another does not. But research has indicated that certain risk factors can increase a person’s chance of getting cancer.
“Risk factors for cancer include exposure to chemicals or other substances, as well as some behaviors. They also include things that people can’t control, like age and family history,” explains the Institute. It should be noted that a family history of some cancers may be a sign of a possible inherited cancer syndrome.
Most cancer risk factors (and protective factors) are initially identified in epidemiologic studies. In these studies, scientists look at large groups of people and compare those who have cancer with those who don’t. These studies may show that people with cancer are more or less likely to behave in a certain way or have been exposed to certain substances than those without cancer.
Accordingly, the following list includes the most studied known or suspected risk factors:
– Alcohol
– Diet
– Age
– Infectious germs
– Hormones
– Chronic inflamation
– Immunosuppression
– Sun light
– Obesity
– Radiation
– Substances in the environment that cause cancer
– Tobacco
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Although some of these risk factors can be avoided; others, such as aging are imminent. By limiting your exposure to avoidable risk factors, you may be able to lower your risk of developing certain cancers.
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