This is the astonishing observation made by scientists from Cancer Research UK, the main research center and charity for the fight against cancer in the UK:a third of cancers could be avoided if we changed our habits concerning 3 major aspects of lifestyle. The study is based on national data from 2015, but the conclusions can be applied to all populations. 135,500 cases of cancer per year – or 2,700 cases per week – could be avoided if the inhabitants maintained a healthier relationship to tobacco, food and UV radiation. This is the equivalent of 37.7% of all cancers diagnosed in the UK each year. Let's start with the first, which is the most preventable cause of cancer:smoking accounts for 1 in 6 cancers in men (32,200 cases) and 1 in 8 cancers in women (22,000 cases). Overweight and obesity, caused by an unhealthy link to food, cause approximately 22,800 cancers (13,200 in women, 9,600 in men) of 13 different types, including those of the breast, the intestine or even kidney. A balanced diet would prevent 1 in 20 cancers.
The 3rd factor to which particular attention must be paid is excessive exposure to UV rays, whether directly in the sun or in booths that provide an artificial tan. It is responsible for 13,600 cases of skin cancer each year, which represents 3.8% of all cancers diagnosed. Other preventable causes of cancer include alcohol (11,900 cancers), too little fiber intake (11,700 cancers), air pollution (although it causes 3,600 lung cancers a year, is well below the ravages of smoking) and insufficient physical activity (1,917 cancers). Research center director Harpal Kumar tells Huffington Post UK :“Having a healthy lifestyle does not guarantee that the person will not be affected by cancer, but it does put the odds in your favor. The figures [from the study] show that everyone can make efforts to gradually reduce their risk of getting sick ". Powerful… For us, it actually makes us want to start adopting healthier reflexes right now. Don't you?
