I recently read an interesting article on Medscape that was reporting on a study that was published in the December issue of the British Journal of Cancer. The study determined that 40% of cancers in women and 45% of cancers in men can be linked to lifestyle factors. This is great news! It means that by making a few lifestyle changes we can drastically reduce our risk for cancer. The study looked at 14 factors and calculated their impact on the risk for developing cancer. These factors are: Tobacco, drinking alcohol, lack of fruits and vegetables, lack of fiber, eating red meat and processed meat, too much salt, being overweight or obese, lack of physical exercise, ionizing radiation, UV radiation, occupation exposure, infection (HPV), postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and lack of breasfeeding. It was found that there are 4 factors that attribute for the most cancers: tobacco, diet, alcohol, and obesity. I have included the following chart which lists their findings in more detail.
Cancers in Men
| Risk Factor | Cancers Attributed to Risk Factor (%) |
| Tobacco | 23.0 |
| Lack of fruit and vegetables | 6.1 |
| Occupational exposure | 4.9 |
| Alcohol | 4.6 |
| Overweight and obesity | 4.1 |
| Excessive sun exposure and sunbeds | 3.5 |
Cancers in Women
| Risk Factor | Cancers Attributed to Risk Factor (%) |
| Tobacco | 15.6 |
| Overweight and obesity | 6.9 |
| Infections (e.g., HPV) | 3.7 |
| Excessive sun exposure and sunbeds | 3.6 |
| Lack of fruit and vegetables | 3.4 |
| Alcohol | 3.3 |
The evidence is clear. In order to avoid that often fatal diagnosis of cancer we should all cease tobacco use, limit alcohol, eat our fruits and veggies, and maintain a healthy weight. Your life just might depend on it...
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