Prevention is Better Than a Cure!

What are the top three modifiable risk factors for developing cancer?

• Tobacco use
• Excess body weight
• Alcohol consumption​

​Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of cancer and deaths from cancer in the United States for both men and women.

• 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S. are related to smoking cigarettes.
• 3 out of 10 cancer deaths are still caused by cigarette smoking.
• Not only do smokers themselves have a higher risk of cancer, but so do nonsmokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke.
• 18 different types of cancer are linked to tobacco use including cancers of the lung, mouth and throat, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and colon, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Studies have shown an increased risk of breast cancer in women who smoke.
• Even individuals who smoke fewer than one cigarette per day over their lifetime have a higher risk of death than nonsmokers.

Fortunately, cessation at any age can reduce the risk of cancer occurrence and cancer-related death. The health benefits of smoking cessation begin soon after quitting, and lung cancer risk is cut in half after 10 years. The sooner you stop smoking, the better for your health, but quitting is beneficial at any age.

Excess body weight related cancer diagnoses are estimated to make up 7.8 percent of all cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S.

• At least 13 different types of cancer, including cancers of the breast, thyroid, liver, pancreas, kidneys, uterus, ovaries, and colon, are higher risk for people who are obese or overweight.  
• The American Cancer Society recommends a well-balanced diet that is high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
• Limit red meat, which has been linked to colon cancer, and especially processed or smoked meats.
• High doses of vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements have not been shown to prevent cancer, and in some cases they can be harmful.
• People who do more physical activity have a lower risk of breast, endometrial, prostate and colon cancer.
• Sedentary lifestyles, especially sitting for long periods, have been linked to cancer and other health risks, even among people who exercise regularly.
• The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity (such as walking, yoga, or gardening) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
• Children and teens should get at least one hour of moderate or vigorous activity each day. Additional activity above this level can provide extra benefits.

 
Body size and weight are influenced by genetics, environment and behavior and can’t be fully controlled. But a healthy diet and exercise are beneficial at any weight.
 
Alcohol use accounts for about 6% of all cancers and 4% of all cancer deaths in the United States, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
​

• The National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services lists consumption of alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen.
• Research has shown a link between alcohol and an increased risk of cancers of the mouth and throat, breast, liver, and colon, and presumably in the stomach and pancreas.
• Evidence is accumulating that alcohol consumption is associated with increased risks of melanoma and of prostate and pancreatic cancers.
• Alcoholic beverages may also contain a variety of carcinogenic contaminants that are introduced during fermentation and production, such as nitrosamines, asbestos fibers, phenols, and hydrocarbons.
• Evidence shows the more alcohol a person drinks—particularly the more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time—the higher his or her risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer.
• Even those who have no more than one drink per day and binge drinkers (those who consume 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men in one sitting) have a modestly increased risk of some cancers.

 
The American Cancer Society recommends that people who drink should limit the amount of alcohol to no more than two drinks per day for men or one drink per day for women. A beer, a glass of wine and a mixed cocktail contain about the same amount of alcohol.
 
Changing or modifying certain behaviors can reduce your risk for developing cancer. Stay physically active, Limit consumption of red meat and processed foods, Maintain a healthy weight, Limit alcohol consumption. For more information and resources, visit https://www.cancer.org/

References:

1. National Cancer Institute. Alcohol and Cancer Risk. National Cancer Institute. Published July 14, 2021. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet
2. Cancer Health Basics: Cancer Prevention. Cancer Health. https://www.cancerhealth.com/basics/health-basics/cancer-prevention
   
3. LoConte NK, Brewster AM, Kaur JS, Merrill JK, Alberg AJ. Alcohol and cancer: A statement of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2018; 36(1):83–93.
   
4. Bagnardi V, Rota M, Botteri E, et al. Alcohol consumption and site-specific cancer risk: A comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis. British Journal of Cancer 2015; 112(3):580–593.
   
5. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Causes and Prevention. National Cancer Institute. Published 2019. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention