A groundbreaking study estimates that 37.8% of new cancer cases diagnosed worldwide in 2022—approximately 7.1 million—were linked to preventable risk factors. The research, published in the journal Nature by scientists from the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), underscores a critical need for enhanced global prevention strategies.
Leading Preventable Causes Identified
The analysis examined 30 modifiable risk factors across 185 countries and 36 cancer types. Tobacco emerged as the single largest preventable cause, responsible for 15% of new cases globally. This was followed by infections (10%) and alcohol consumption (3%). Other significant factors included high body mass index, physical inactivity, air pollution, and ultraviolet radiation.
For the first time in such a comprehensive assessment, the study integrated nine cancer-causing infections, such as Helicobacter pylori and human papillomavirus (HPV). Nearly half of all preventable cancers worldwide were concentrated in three categories: lung, stomach, and cervical cancers.
Significant Disparities by Gender and Region
The burden of preventable cancer is not evenly distributed. The proportion was significantly higher in men (45% of new cases) than in women (30%).
- For men globally, smoking accounted for about 23% of new cancers, ahead of infections (9%) and alcohol (4%).
- For women globally, infections led at 11%, followed by smoking (6%) and high BMI (3%).
Regional variations were also stark. Among women, preventable cancers ranged from 24% of new cases in North Africa and Western Asia to 38% in Sub-Saharan Africa. For men, the highest burden was in East Asia (57%), while the lowest was in Latin America and the Caribbean (28%).
A Call for Coordinated Prevention Efforts
In a statement, the IARC emphasized that acting on these avoidable risks is essential to reduce not only cancer incidence but also long-term healthcare costs and to improve population health. The agency called for a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach involving health, education, energy, transport, and labor policies.
This study shifts focus from cancer mortality to incidence, providing a clearer picture of how targeted prevention could substantially reduce the global cancer burden before it starts.
