WHO: Nearly Half of Cancers are Preventable! Scientists Summarize 7 Cancer Prevention Tips.

Every year, there are 20 million new cancer cases worldwide, with 30% to 50% of new cancer cases and over 40% of cancer-related deaths attributed to unhealthy lifestyles. The World Health Organization has repeatedly emphasized that nearly half of all cancers are preventable, with 80% of preventable cancers being related to lifestyle factors. Approximately 1 in 5 people will develop cancer.

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Recently, the latest report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a subsidiary of the World Health Organization, stated that about 1 in 5 people will develop some form of cancer, with approximately 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women dying from cancer.

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Based on the latest data from tumor registration and follow-up monitoring, China's National Cancer Center has identified three characteristics of newly diagnosed cancer cases:

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1. Different cancer types are more common in men and women:

Lung cancer was the most common cancer in China in 2022 (1.0606 million cases), followed by colorectal cancer (517,100 cases), thyroid cancer (466,100 cases), liver cancer (367,700 cases), and stomach cancer (358,700 cases), accounting for 57.42% of the total number of new cases.

Among men, the top five cancers are lung, colorectal, liver, stomach, and esophageal cancer; while among women, the most common cancers are lung, breast, thyroid, colorectal, and cervical cancer.

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2. Incidence peaks after the age of 80:

The incidence of cancer is relatively low from 0 to 34 years old, but increases sharply after the age of 35, reaching its peak at 80 to 84 years old. Overall, the incidence rate in males is lower than females between 25 and 54 years old, but higher after the age of 60.

It is worth noting that from 2000 to 2018, the annual cancer incidence rate among women increased significantly by 2.6%, mainly due to the significant increase in the incidence of thyroid and cervical cancers.

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3. Mortality rate is decreasing year by year:

In China, the cancer mortality rate significantly increases after the age of 40, with males higher than females. The mortality rate peaks at the age of 85 and above, at 1449.71 per 100,000 people.

From 2000 to 2018, the age-standardized mortality rate for all cancers decreased significantly by 1.3% annually, mainly due to the reduction in mortality rates for esophageal, stomach, and liver cancers.

Chen Wanqing, director of the Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Office of the National Cancer Center, stated that compared to previous years, the cancer incidence rate in China continues to rise, indicating a still serious situation in cancer prevention and control.

Specifically, China's cancer spectrum differs slightly from international trends, with several leading cancers having poor prognoses and low 5-year survival rates among patients, resulting in a moderate cancer incidence rate but a high mortality rate in China.

A recent study from the UK Biomedical Center reveals that adhering to seven healthy lifestyle habits significantly reduces the risk of various cancers. Each type of cancer has its own mechanisms of occurrence, so changing lifestyle habits can indeed reduce the risk of corresponding cancers.

1. Maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk of liver, kidney, and gallbladder cancers.

As early as 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer clearly pointed out that being overweight or obese increases the risk of at least 13 types of cancers.The UK has also conducted a study of over 5.2 million people, finding that for every 5-unit increase in body mass index (BMI), the incidence of liver, gallbladder, kidney, and thyroid cancers significantly rises.

Obese patients often have insulin resistance, which can stimulate the growth and spread of cancer cells. Excessive fat tissue in the body can also induce chronic inflammation, disrupt hormone levels, and these factors may lead to cancer.

2. Engage in regular physical activity to reduce the risk of colorectal, gastric, and lung cancers.

According to statistics, over one-third of adults worldwide lack exercise, resulting in 1.4 billion people falling ill.

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A 2021 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that lack of exercise is associated with various cancers, including but not limited to colorectal, breast, prostate, gastric, and lung cancers.

Lack of exercise can lead to decreased physical function and increased chronic inflammation, making cancer cells evade immune system monitoring and clearance, leading to cancer cell proliferation.

3. Eat more whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits to reduce the risk of digestive system cancers.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, while legumes and grains are sources of high-quality protein and micronutrients, all of which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Inadequate intake of these foods may cause cell damage or abnormal proliferation, affecting metabolism and organ function, thereby increasing the risk of cancer.

For example, insufficient dietary fiber intake may lower the speed of gastrointestinal peristalsis, unable to expel metabolic waste promptly, leading to digestive system cancers such as colorectal cancer.

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4. Limit consumption of "fast food" and high-fat foods to reduce the risk of prostate, kidney, and ovarian cancers.

A study published in the journal Cell shows that long-term consumption of a high-fat diet can increase the risk of prostate and kidney cancers by 2 to 4 times. The Journal of Gynecologic Oncology also confirms that a high-fat diet is directly related to lower survival rates in ovarian cancer patients.

A high-fat diet can stimulate increased bile secretion, and certain anaerobic bacteria in the intestines can generate deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid under the action of bile, both of which are carcinogenic. In addition, a high-fat diet can slow down intestinal peristalsis, prolong the retention time of metabolic waste in the body, and increase the risk of cancer.

5. Limit consumption of red meat and processed meats to reduce the risk of gastric and esophageal cancers.

As early as 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified "processed meats (such as ham, sausage, jerky, etc.)" as Group 1 carcinogens, and listed "red meat" as a Group 2A carcinogen, which is a "probable carcinogen".

The International Agency for Research on Cancer also suggests that consuming more than 100 grams of red meat per day increases the risk of cancer by 17%. Excessive intake of red meat may increase the risk of colorectal cancer, and excessive consumption of smoked meats may increase the risk of gastric and esophageal cancers.

Red meat is high in saturated fatty acids, and excessive intake can increase the risk of obesity. Processed foods such as bacon and sausage have high nitrite content, which can decompose and produce nitrosamines, which are strong carcinogens. In addition, the dense smoke produced during smoking contains a large amount of benzo[a]pyrene, which can stimulate the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and induce cancer.

6. Drink fewer sugary drinks to reduce the risk of pancreatic and liver cancers.

Nature magazine points out that in the past 50 years, global sugar consumption has tripled, mainly from the sharp increase in sales of sugary drinks. For example, a 500ml sugary drink contains 38 grams of sugar, and sugar intake has seriously exceeded the standard.

Excessive sugar intake can stimulate the pancreas to secrete a large amount of insulin, leading to visceral fat accumulation and continuous increase in inflammation levels, increasing the burden on the pancreas and liver, and inducing pancreatic and liver cancers.

7. Limit alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of liver and esophageal cancers.

There is no safe amount of alcohol consumption. According to statistics, 3 million people worldwide die from harmful drinking every year. Excessive drinking is associated with various cancers, the most common being liver, gastric, and esophageal cancers.

After alcohol enters the body, it is mainly metabolized by the liver. Long-term excessive drinking can increase the burden on the liver, causing liver damage and alcoholic liver cirrhosis, which can induce liver cancer. Alcohol can also stimulate the gastric mucosa, causing gastritis, gastric ulcers, or even gastric bleeding,increasing the risk of gastric and esophageal cancers.

Although different healthy habits have their "cancer prevention advantages," they often interact with each other and have a "1+1＞2" effect. Therefore, different types of healthy lifestyle habits should be adopted.