According to a new study by the American Cancer Society, about 40% of new cancer cases in the US among adults 30 and older can be attributed to certain risk factors.
The organization’s chief patient officer said that people can reduce their risk of getting cancer by making simple changes to their lifestyles.
The study found that smoking is the leading risk factor for developing cancer. Other known risk factors include being overweight, being physically inactive, and consuming alcohol.
The researchers also looked into other factors such as infections with HPV and diet.
The study found that in 2019, over 700,000 new cancer cases were linked to these lifestyle factors. In addition, over 262,000 deaths were linked to these factors.
According to Kamal, cancer cells grow due to DNA damage. Other factors such as environmental factors and genetic makeup can also contribute to the development of the disease.
However, these factors are known to explain a huge portion of cancer cases and deaths.
One of the most common causes of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This can damage DNA and trigger certain types of cancer.
According to Kamal, cancer patients often feel like they have no control over their condition. However, a new study suggests that certain factors can be prevented from causing the disease.
Although the study focused on 19 types of cancer, it also identified 10 other types where at least 80% of new cases were attributed to modifiable risk factors
. These include melanoma, which is linked to exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and most cases of cervical cancer, which can be prevented through a vaccine.
One of the most common types of cancer cases that were attributed to these risk factors was lung cancer. About 104,000 new cases were reported in men and 97,000 in women.
The majority of these cases were linked to smoking. After smoking, being overweight became the second most common cause of cancer cases, affecting about 5% of men and 11% of women.
A new study found that being overweight was linked to more than a third of the deaths from various types of cancer. Another study noted that taking diabetes medications and weight-loss pills known as Wegovy and Ozempic can reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Being overweight has been known to increase the risk of developing cancer. According to Dr. Marcus Plescia, the chief medical officer of the nation’s health officials, being obese is just as deadly as smoking.
Plescia noted that incorporating certain behavioral risk factors, such as quitting smoking and eating right, can significantly reduce the incidence and outcome of chronic diseases.
One of these is cancer, just like diabetes or heart disease. Health officials and policymakers should place people at the center of their environments, where the healthy choices are easy.
It’s also important for people living in low-income communities, as it might be difficult to exercise or access healthy food. As the number of early-onset cancer cases in the US continues to rise, experts believe it’s vital to implement healthy habits early.
Although it can be hard to stop smoking after a certain period of time, it’s still possible to make changes in your behavior later in life. Experts noted that by making lifestyle changes, people can reduce their risk of developing cancer significantly.
Kamal explained that cancer is something that your body fights every day as it divides. Being able to reduce the risks associated with it can also benefit you.