Cancer Modifiable Risk Factors

Cancer-35 Percent of Deaths Caused by 9 Modifiable Risk Factors
By Valerian D.

According to World Bank statistics, in 2001 year were registered about seven million deaths worldwide from cancer. This is a high amount of men and women. But the big concern is that 35 percent from deaths were attributable to the only nine behavioral and environmental risk factors, with alcohol and smoking playing large roles. That means more than one in every three of the seven million deaths from cancer worldwide was caused by nine risk factors that people can easily eliminate from their habits.

The above nine modifiable risk factors were:

Smoking.

Smoking alone is estimated to have caused 21 percent of deaths from cancer worldwide.
Alcohol use.

Mouth cancer caused by alcohol use killed more people in the UK than cervical cancer and testicular cancer put together. When tobacco and alcohol use are combined, the risk of oral cancer increases 15 times. Alcohol is also a primary cause of liver cancer.
Overweight and obesity.

One in 10 cancers affecting non-smokers is caused by the sufferer being overweight.
Low fruit and vegetable intake.

It has been estimated that about 25,000 different chemical compounds occur in vegetables and fruits. Studies show that more than 500 of these compounds are potential modifiers of the cancer process.
Physical inactivity.

Physical inactivity is strongly linked to colorectal cancer, as well as to a important number of dietary risk factors.
Unsafe sex.

Sexual transmission of human papilloma virus is the leading risk factor for cervical cancer in women.
Urban air pollution.

In France, urban air pollution, most of it caused by cars, buses and trucks, kills more than 5,000 people every year.
Indoor smoke from household use of coal.

It is stated that a pollutant released indoors is many times more likely to reach the lung than that released outdoors.
Contaminated injections in healthcare settings, like unsafe blood transfusions.

These conclusions clearly show that very important types of cancer are preventable by changes in lifestyle behaviors and environmental interventions.

Valerian D is a freelance writer specialized in health issues like cancer risk factors