Almost half of all cancers are linked to lifestyle, study finds – The Mercury News

About 40% of latest cancer cases in adults within the United States – and nearly half of all cancer deaths – are resulting from lifestyle risk aspects equivalent to smoking, obesity and alcohol consumption, in response to a brand new study by American Cancer Society.

The study suggests that folks can partially control their cancer risk through their day by day decisions. The exact reason behind most cancers is unknown and lots of are beyond the control of the person.

The study identified a listing of lifestyle risk aspects that put people at a better risk of a cancer diagnosis over their lifetime. Cigarette smoking was by far the largest risk factor, contributing to almost one in five cancer cases and about one-third of all cancer deaths. Obesity was next, accounting for nearly 8% of cancer cases, followed by alcohol consumption and excessive sun exposure, each related to about 5% of cases. Physical inactivity was related to 3% of cancer cases.

The researchers analyzed a complete of 18 risk aspects for 30 sorts of cancer. Other risk aspects that contribute to cancer cases to a lesser extent include consumption of red and processed meat, low fruit and vegetable consumption, and infections with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV), in response to researchers. The findings were published Thursday within the journal CA: A cancer journal for clinicians.

In 2019, these lifestyle aspects were linked to almost 715,000 cancer cases and roughly 262,000 deaths.

The findings aren’t exactly latest, but they complement growing research showing that many cancer cases – and as much as half of deaths – will be prevented by changing your lifestyle.

“Despite a significant decline in smoking rates over the past few decades, the number of lung cancer deaths attributable to cigarette smoking in the United States is alarming. This finding underscores the importance of implementing comprehensive tobacco control policies in every state to encourage smoking cessation, as well as increased efforts to increase early detection of lung cancer when treatment may be more effective,” said Dr. Farhad Islamisenior scientific director of cancer disparities research on the American Cancer Society and lead writer of the report.

In a press release, Islami wrote that measures to take care of a healthy body weight could reduce the variety of cases and deaths. This is very essential in young individuals with early-stage cancer. The variety of cancer cases in people under 50 has risen sharply in recent times.

Despite evidence that folks have more control over their cancer risk than they think, many questions remain about who gets cancer and why.

About 10% of all cancers are brought on by inherited or genetic aspects.

Colon cancer, once a rare reason behind death amongst men and ladies, is now a number one reason behind death amongst men and ladies under 50. Experts say some risk aspects, equivalent to obesity and lack of exercise, may play a task, but they still don't know what's causing the rise in cases amongst younger adults.

According to the ACS, there have been an estimated 61,170 latest cancer cases in Georgia last 12 months.

In this latest ACS study, researchers used nationally representative data on cancer incidence and mortality and risk factor prevalence to estimate the proportion and variety of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk aspects overall for 30 cancer types. Nonmelanoma skin cancers weren’t included within the study.

According to the study, some sorts of cancer are more closely linked to risk aspects than others. For example, around 90% of melanoma cases are brought on by ultraviolet radiation and almost every case of cervical cancer is linked to HPV infection, which, in response to the study, will be prevented with an HPV vaccination.

Lung cancer tops the list because most cases are attributed to a modifiable risk factor, with the overwhelming majority of cases attributed to smoking, including current and past smoking habits and exposure to secondhand smoke.

Excess body tissue was related to 11% of breast cancer cases, 14% of stomach cancer cases, and about half of uterine cancer cases.

“These results show that there is still a need to improve equitable access to preventive health care and awareness of preventive measures,” added DR. Ahmedin JemalSenior vp for surveillance and health equity science on the American Cancer Society and lead writer of the study.

©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Originally published:

image credit : www.mercurynews.com