Preventing Cancer: The Power is in Your Hands

While cancer may seem like a daunting and uncontrollable force, a new study from the American Cancer Society reveals that nearly half of adult cancer deaths in the US could be prevented by making lifestyle changes. As Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer of the American Cancer Society, emphasizes, "These are things that people can practically change how they live every single day to reduce their risk of cancer." The study analyzed 18 modifiable risk factors across 30 types of cancer and found that smoking was the leading risk factor, contributing to nearly 1 in 5 cancer cases and nearly a third of cancer deaths. Other key risk factors included excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet, and infections such as HPV. These findings highlight the importance of taking control of our health and making conscious choices about our lifestyle. As Dr. Kamal notes, "With cancer, it oftentimes 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." So, what can we do to reduce our risk of cancer? The study suggests that certain cancers are more preventable than others, and modifiable risk factors contributed to more than half of new cases for 19 of the 30 types of cancer evaluated. In fact, there were 10 types of cancer where modifiable risk factors could be attributed to at least 80% of new cases.

It's clear that quitting smoking is a crucial step in reducing cancer risk, as it was linked to nearly 1 in 5 cancer cases and nearly a third of cancer deaths. Excess body weight was the second largest contributor to cancer cases, linked to about 5% of new cases in men and nearly 11% of cases in women. But what about other modifiable risk factors? Research has shown that popular weight-loss and diabetes medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy can significantly reduce the risk of certain cancers. Additionally, intervening on "core behavioral risk factors" such as quitting smoking, eating well, and exercising can make a "dramatic difference in the rates and outcomes of chronic diseases." So, what's the takeaway? It's never too late to make these changes, and making lifestyle changes to minimize exposure to certain factors can reduce cancer risk relatively quickly. As Dr. Kamal emphasizes, "Cancer is something your body fights every single day as your cells divide. It's a risk that you face every day, and that also means that the reduction of the risks can benefit you every day as well."

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