Jérôme Salomon, Chief Medical and Science Officer at Zoī, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Cancer Prevention: 4 out of 10 cancer cases could be prevented globally, according to new analysis by WHO and IARC – International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization
This study looks at 30 preventable causes of cancer, including smoking, alcohol consumption, overweight, physical inactivity, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation and, for the first time, 9 infectious agents
Published for World Cancer Day, the analysis shows that in 2022, 37% of new cancer cases (7.1 million cases) were linked to preventable causes. There is therefore enormous potential in terms of prevention to reduce the global burden on cancers
The study (36 types of cancer in 185 countries) found that smoking is the leading preventable cause of cancer worldwide (15% of new cases), followed by infections (10%) and alcohol consumption (3%)
Cancers of the lung, stomach and collar of the uterus account for nearly half of the world’s preventable cases in both men and women
Lung cancer is mainly linked to smoking and air pollution, stomach cancer is largely attributable to Helicobacter pylori infection and cervical cancer is due to human papillomavirus HPV in the vast majority of cases
The burden of preventable cancers is significantly higher among men than women (45% versus 30%). In men, smoking is responsible for 23% of new cancer cases, ahead of infections (9%) and alcohol consumption (4%). In women, infections are responsible for 11% of new cancer cases, followed by smoking (6%) and being overweight (3%)
The burden of preventable cancers varies by region, ranging from 24% in North Africa and West Asia to 38% in Sub-Saharan Africa in women and between 57% in East Asia and 28% in Latin America and the Caribbean in men. These differences reflect varying exposures to risk behavioral, environmental, professionals and infectious factors, as well as differences related to socioeconomic development, prevention policies and the capacity of the santé system
The results highlight the need for appropriate prevention strategies that include strict tobacco control measures, alcohol regulation, vaccination against cancer-causing infections such as HPV and Hepatitis, improved air quality, safer workplaces and healthier environments for eating and physical activity
Addressing preventable risk factors reduces cancer incidence and long-term health care costs and improves population health”
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