12/12/2011
40 per cent of cancers "preventable"
by David Howells
New research has claimed that around 40 per cent of cancers diagnosed in the UK are caused by lifestyle and are therefore preventable, express.co.uk reports.
The report by Cancer Research UK found that over 130,000 cancers diagnosed in the UK every year are as a direct result of smoking, drinking or a bad diet.
Of the three biggest culprit, smoking accounts for the biggest share, accounting for 23 per cent of cancers in men and 15.6 per cent in women. Next is a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables or being overweight, with drinking in third.
The research has been published in the British Journal of Cancer and is thought to be the most comprehensive analysis of such data ever produced.
It is expected the results will shock many people to see the number of cancers that could be prevented. It is hoped that this will encourage them to quit their habit, with some turning to stop smoking hypnosis to make giving up easier.
Speaking to BBC News of the study, lead author Max Parkin explained: "Many people believe cancer is down to fate or 'in the genes' and that it is the luck of the draw whether they get it.
"Looking at the evidence, it's clear that around 40 per cent of all cancers are caused by things we mostly have the power to change."
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