Preventing Cancer: A Wake-Up Call to Avoidable Risks
Preventable cancers are cases of cancer that develop as a result of modifiable risk factors such as smoking, heavy drinking, poor diet, and sunburn. Health experts estimate that about 40% of cancers worldwide are preventable. In the UK, 37.7% of all cancers are attributable to known risk factors. Alcohol, smoking, diet, and UV radiation exposure are the main risk factors. Taking steps such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, protecting oneself from the sun, reducing alcohol consumption, and adopting a healthy balanced diet can help minimize the risk of cancer.