Global Study: Nearly Four in Ten Cancer Cases Could Have Been Prevented, WHO Says

New global research by the World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer finds that up to 37 per cent of new cancer cases in 2022, roughly 7.1 million out of 18.7 million, were linked to causes that can be avoided. The analysis covers 30 modifiable risk factors, ranging from tobacco use and alcohol consumption to high body mass index, air pollution, ultraviolet exposure and, for the first time, infections known to cause cancer. These findings were released ahead of World Cancer Day on 4 February.

Tobacco use remained the leading preventable cause, responsible for about 15 per cent of new cancers worldwide. Infections, including human papillomavirus and Helicobacter pylori, accounted for nearly 10 per cent, with alcohol consumption contributing around 3 per cent of cases.

Three cancer types accounted for almost half of all preventable cases: lung, stomach and cervical cancers. Lung cancer links to smoking and air pollution, stomach cancer is largely tied to infections, and cervical cancer is driven by human papillomavirus infections.

The risk profile varies between men and women, with preventable cancers constituting about 45 per cent of new cases in men compared with 30 per cent in women. Tobacco remains the dominant risk factor in men, while infections play a greater role in women.

The report underscores the potential impact of stronger prevention measures, including robust tobacco control, alcohol regulation, vaccination against cancer-causing infections, improved air quality and greater public awareness of lifestyle risk factors.