Nearly half of cancer deaths are linked to lifestyle choices a person could change Further, 4 of 10 cancer cases are tied to lifestyle factors Cigarette smoking remains the deadliest lifestyle risk factor FRIDAY, July 12, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly half of cancer deaths and 4 of 10 cases of cancer are linked to a person’s lifestyle, a new study says. Cigarette smoking remains the biggest cancer risk, contributing to 30% of cancer deaths and 20% of cancer cases, results show. But excess body weight, drinking, lack of exercise, diet and skipping cancer-preventing vaccinations also increase a person’s risk of developing or dying from cancer, researchers said.
For the study, researchers analyzed nationwide data on cancer for 2019 and its risk factors to estimate the number of cases and deaths attributable to lifestyle risk factors. Cigarette smoking contributes to 56% of all potentially preventable cancers in men and 40% of those in women, results show. “The number of lung cancer deaths attributable to cigarette smoking in the United States is alarming,” given that smoking has greatly declined during the past few decades, lead researcher , senior scientific director of cancer disparity research at the American Cancer Society, said in a news release.
“This finding underscores the importance of implementing comprehensive tobacco control policies in each state to promote smoking cessation, as well as heightened efforts to increase screening for early detection of lung.