Cancer Research. UK: Overall, experts say that more than four in 10 cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle. With health services already overstretched and people living longer, prevention is vital to tackle cancer head on.
Smoking remains by far the biggest preventable cause of cancer in the
UK, accounting for more than 314,000 cases in the past five years -
nearly a fifth of all cancers. So giving up cigarettes would be the best
New Year resolution smokers could make.
But the charity’s new figures show a further 145,000 cases could have
been prevented if people had eaten a healthy balanced diet low in red
and processed meat and salt, and high in vegetables, fruit and fibre.
Keeping a healthy weight could have prevented around 88,000 cases.
Cutting down on alcohol, protecting skin in the sun and taking more
exercise could also have helped prevent tens of thousands of people in
the UK developing cancer in the past five years.
Professor Max Parkin, a Cancer Research UK statistician based at Queen Mary University of London (link is external),
whose landmark study formed the basis of these latest figures, said:
“There’s now little doubt that certain lifestyle choices can have a big
impact on cancer risk, with research around the world all pointing to
the same key risk factors.
“Of course everyone enjoys some extra treats during the Christmas
holidays so we don’t want to ban mince pies and wine but it’s a good
time to think about taking up some healthy habits for 2015. Leading a
healthy lifestyle can’t guarantee someone won’t get cancer but we can
stack the odds in our favour by taking positive steps now that will help
decrease our cancer risk in future.”
Justine Sheils, 43, from Liverpool has had five cancerous moles
removed after regularly using sunbeds in her youth. She said: “We didn’t
know about the dangers of sunbathing when I was in my teens and
twenties, or at least I didn’t want to know. I sunbathed on holiday and
then used sunbeds to keep my tan topped up all year around, which was
the fashion in those days. It wasn’t until I noticed a
suspicious-looking mole on my chest that I really thought about the
risks I was taking.
“Being diagnosed with malignant melanoma gave me one heck of a wakeup
call. I’ve had surgery five times now to remove various moles and I go
for check-ups every few months. It’s been a truly horrible experience
but it did make me think about how I need to overhaul my lifestyle. So
I’ve taken up running, I make sure I’m eating a healthy diet and getting
my five fruit and vegetables every day and I’ve cut back on alcohol. I
feel so lucky to have been given a second chance and I wouldn’t waste it
for the world.”
Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s expert on cancer
prevention, added: “There are more than 200 types of cancer each caused
by a complex set of factors - involving both our genes and our
lifestyles. There are proven ways to minimise our risk of cancer – like
giving up smoking, being more active, drinking less alcohol and
maintaining a healthy weight. We must make sure the public and the
policy-makers know the evidence behind the benefits of these lifestyle
changes is solid.”
Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “We know
that cutting UK smoking rates by just one per cent could save 3,000
lives a year. But changing our habits isn’t easy. That’s why we’ve made
it a priority to invest in more research so we can learn the best ways
to help people make healthier choices to reduce their cancer risk in
later life.
“Every year tens of thousands of people in the UK will be diagnosed
with preventable cancers unless we act now to help people lead healthier
lives. Alongside investment in health campaigns and ways to help people
reduce their risk of cancer, the government urgently needs to take
action to stop children starting smoking by introducing standardised
packaging for cigarettes without delay. We hope all parliamentary
parties will acknowledge that cancer is set to be an ongoing challenge
and one which needs careful planning and investment across prevention,
diagnosis and treatment.”