The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that 50 percent to 75 percent of U.S. cancer deaths are caused by three harmful behaviors: tobacco use, lack of exercise and poor diet. They're lifestyle habits most people can control. If these behaviors are changed or eliminated, a person's risk of developing cancer drops dramatically. People can also help protect themselves from cancer by avoiding excessive exposure to the sun and certain infections.
Tobacco
Tobacco causes 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), "all cancer deaths caused by cigarette smoking . . . could be prevented completely." Lung cancer isn't the only type of cancer linked to smoking. Smoking is also the leading cause of bladder, cervical, esophageal, kidney, oral, pancreatic and stomach cancers, as well as an acute form of leukemia.
Diet and Exercise
NCI reports that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle cause 25 percent to 30 percent of common cancers. Obese people are much more likely to develop colorectal, esophageal, kidney, pancreatic, prostate, uterine and postmenopausal breast cancer. Inversely, people who are physically active have a lower risk of developing certain cancers. This is particularly true of colorectal cancer.
However, studies regarding the direct correlation between diet and cancer are inconclusive. For instance, some research studies show that high calorie, high fat, red meat diets are linked to colorectal cancer. But two clinical trials conducted by NCI, the Polyp Prevention Trial and Wheat Bran Fiber Study, have not been able to establish this link.
Daily excessive alcohol consumption leads to double the risk of developing mouth, voice box and throat cancers. Drinking too much alcohol over an extended period has also been linked to liver, breast and colorectal cancers. ACS states that "all cancer deaths caused by . . . heavy use of alcohol could be prevented completely."
Sun
The majority of the 1 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 65 percent to 90 percent of the nearly 54,000 melanomas diagnosed each year are caused by excessive sun exposure. Most skin cancers can be prevented if people protect themselves from the sun by wearing adequate sunscreen and clothing.
Infections
Some cancers are caused by viruses. Limiting exposure to certain viruses, either through vaccination or early and adequate medical treatment, can help prevent these cancers. For instance, nearly 90 percent of cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Contraction of HPV can be prevented through sexual abstinence, vaccination and consistent condom use.
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been linked to nearly 80 percent of liver cancers. Like HPV, hepatitis B and can be prevented through vaccination.
Screenings
According to ACS, nearly 50 percent of all new cancer cases could be prevented or detected at an earlier, more treatable stage if people would undergo regular screenings for these cancers: breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate and skin.
Tags: cancer deaths, cancer deaths caused, could prevented, deaths caused, nearly percent
