Lifestyle Changes Could Prevent Nearly Half of US Cancer Deaths, Study Shows

A study by the American Cancer Society has revealed that approximately 40% of new cancer cases and nearly half of all cancer deaths among U.S. adults aged 30 and older could be prevented through lifestyle changes. The research, published in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, identified several modifiable risk factors including smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor diet, and infections such as HPV. In 2019, these factors were linked to over 700,000 new cancer cases and over 262,000 deaths.

Smoking emerged as the leading risk factor, contributing to nearly 1 in 5 cancer cases and about 30% of cancer deaths. The study found that certain cancers are more preventable than others, with modifiable risk factors accounting for over half of new cases in 19 out of 30 cancer types evaluated. The findings suggest a significant potential for cancer prevention through public health initiatives focused on smoking cessation, weight management, alcohol moderation, increased physical activity, improved diet, and infection control.