Breadcrumb What we do | Thematic areas Cancer prevention Cancer prevention Effective actions by governments, organisations and individuals to reduce the risk factors for cancer, such as the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods, can help prevent over one-third of all cancers. Go to section Cancer risk factors and prevention Social media toolkit UICC's work With an estimated 19.3 million cases and nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, cancer is now the second leading cause of death worldwide. The global burden of cancer is projected to grow with incidence and mortality rates set to rise by 40% by 2040 [1]. Up to half of cancer cases are preventable, making cancer prevention measures a cost-effective means to reduce cancer incidence and mortality. Primary cancer prevention measures includes interventions that block the initiation of cancer by altering exposure to risk factors, such as tobacco smoke, alcohol, occupational carcinogens, radiation, overweight and obesity and other factors that are modifiable by changes in behaviour or policy. Secondary cancer prevention measures relates to detecting cancer early and stopping it from getting worse. It includes screening tests that can identify and treat cancer early in its development. While effective tests for population screening are in place for only a few cancers (breast, cervix, lung and colorectal cancer), primary and secondary (early detection) strategies can reduce the cancer burden by one third to a half and are therefore cost effective and core components of a national cancer control strategy. Cancer risk factors and prevention A cancer risk factor is anything that increases a person's likelihood of developing cancer. Risk factors can include lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and poor diet, as well as genetic and environmental factors. Identifying and addressing risk factors through policy and programmes and behaviour changes can reduce the risk of developing cancer. Addressing the risk factors for cancer offer a cost-effective and long-term strategy for cancer control. In recognition of this, WHO recommends that “national policies and programmes should be implemented to raise awareness, to reduce exposure to cancer risk factors and to ensure that people are provided with the information and support they need to adopt healthy lifestyles.” [2] There are different evidence-based prevention strategies and approaches that national, regional and city governments can take to reduce the cancer burden, a few of which are highlighted in the specific sections below on different cancer risk factors. Tobacco control Tobacco use kills eight million people per year. In total, there are about one billion smokers worldwide, 800 million of which are living in low- and middle-income countries, which tobacco companies target more actively. The consumption of tobacco products can lead to the development of more than 12 types of cancer and It accounts for 25% of all cancer deaths globally, making tobacco the single greatest avoidable cancer risk factor. This includes people who smoke tobacco directly, those exposed to second-hand smoke and smokeless tobacco product consumption (such as chewing tobacco or snus). Smokers are up to 22 times more likely to develop lung cancer in their lifetime compared to non-smokers. However, people who do not use tobacco but who are exposed to second-hand smoke at home, work or in other public places also have an increased risk of developing lung diseases, including chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer. Prevention Governments should implement measures outlined in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), such as increasing taxes, plain packaging, banning advertising and promotion, eliminating exposure to second-hand smoke, educating the public about tobacco harm, providing suitable cessation services and taking action against illicit trade. For more information on tobacco control and cancer, please visit UICC's dedicated webpage. Alcohol The number of cancer cases due to alcohol is estimated to be more than 740,000 per year. The risk of cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed by an individual. Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for multiple cancers including oral, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, pancreas, colorectal and breast. People who use both alcohol and tobacco have a 5-fold increased risk of developing cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx and oesophagus compared to people who use either alcohol or tobacco alone. For heavy users, the risk is up to 30 times higher. Prevention The Global report on alcohol and SAFER offers guidelines to reducing the consumption of alcohol. Proven effective measures include increasing excise tax, enforcing bans on alcohol advertising, enforcing drink-driving laws and limiting blood alcohol concentration, providing psychosocial support, enforcing minimum age for alcohol purchase, and restricting or banning promotions of alcoholic beverages to young people. There is also a growing body of evidence supporting the effectiveness of warning labels on alcohol packaging. For more information on alcohol and cancer, please visit UICC's dedicated webpage. Obesity Overweight (body mass index or BMI above 25) and obesity (BMI above 30) are linked to several cancer types, including of the oesophagus, breast, endometrium and colorectum. Improving dietary factors, such as the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and regular physical activity have also been shown to reduce cancer incidence and help lower the risk of other non-communicable diseases. Prevention Governments can help reduce people's exposure to unhealthy foods by enacting policies that severely restrict the marketing and sales of products that contribute to high body mass index, such as ultra processed foods and sugary beverages. Measures include organising mass media campaigns to communicate on salt intake and healthy diet, reducing and replacing industrial trans-fat and saturated fats, reducing sugar and processed meat consumption, and promoting fruit and vegetable intake. Read more The International Collaboration on Nutrition in relation to Cancer (ICONIC) is a formal Taskforce of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences, gathering experts in the fields of nutrition and cancer from around the world. It focuses on advancing research in the area of nutrition and cancer, with the ultimate goal of preventing cancer through healthy diets and lifestyle choices. The organisation's website provides information on ongoing research projects, publications and events related to nutrition and cancer. The task force also offers resources and tools for healthcare professionals and the public to promote healthy eating habits and reduce the risk of cancer. Physical inactivity Regular physical activity helps reduce the risk of cancer by maintaining a healthy body weight, regulating hormone levels and strengthening the immune system. Prevention Governments should raise awareness about the importance of physical activity, provide safe access to public open spaces and adequate provisions for walking and cycling, and encourage the implementation of workplace physical activity programmes. Read more Infections According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15% of all cancers worldwide are caused by infections. Of these, 1.4 million infection-related cancers (or two-thirds) occur in low- and middle-income countries. The most common infectious agents linked to cancer include viruses such as hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus (HPV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), as well as bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori. Prevention Effective and safe vaccines are available for HBV, which can help prevent liver cancer, and HPV, which contributes to a majority of cervical as well as some throat cancers; in fact, widespread immunisation against HPV can significantly contribute to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem. Reducing salt intake, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, which increases the H. pylori-associated risk of developing gastric cancer, are also effective measures. Radiation, environmental and occupational carcinogens Factors in the environment can also cancer. Some of the most prevalent are ionising radiation (including UV light) and certain chemicals and environmental pollutants from both man-made or natural origins. Exposure to these cancer-causing substances (“carcinogens”) can be clustered among particular groups. For example, more than 40 agents, mixtures and chemicals are grouped together as ‘occupational carcinogens’ and include substances like asbestos which triggers mesothelioma, even years after exposure. Air, water and soil chemicals also have an impact on the cancer burden. Air pollution alonecontributed to the premature death of 6.7 million people annually, including over 223,000 lung cancer deaths. Prevention Avoid sun exposure and protect with appropriate sunscreen and do not use UV tanning devices. Avoid the use of indoor coal fires or cooking with solid fossil fuels. Promote health policy in the workplace. For air pollution, implement stricter vehicle emission standards and adopt clean technologies that reduce industrial pollution. Social media toolkit Images Alcohol prevention images Tobacco prevention images Obesity prevention images General prevention images Social media messages Alcohol prevention messages Did you know that alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer? Take control of your health by limiting your intake today! #cancer #alcohol @uicc Think twice before reaching for that drink - alcohol can lead to cancer. Take action to reduce your risk by limiting your alcohol consumption. #cancer #alcohol @uicc Did you know that alcohol can cause 7 types of cancer, including breast and liver cancer? Take control of your health and limit your consumption. #cancer #alcohol @uicc Alcohol is a known cause of 7 types of cancer, but it's never too late to make a change. Choose to drink responsibly and protect your health. #cancer #alcohol @uicc Alcohol use contributed to 740,000 new cancer cases globally in 2020 alone. Take action to protect your health by limiting your alcohol consumption. #cancer #alcohol @uicc 4.1% of new cancer diagnoses worldwide can be attributed to alcohol use. Take control of your health and limit your consumption. #cancer #alcohol @uicc Alcohol companies can easily exploit weaker regulations in some countries to market their products more aggressively, often targeting vulnerable populations like young people and women. #cancer #alcohol @uicc Did you know that alcohol brands spend twice as much on television advertising as the average brand? This massive investment in advertising raises concerns about the impact on public health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. #cancer #alcohol @uicc Digital advertising is set to account for 30% of their advertising spending by 2023, up from 21% in 2019. This growth is likely to be fueled by social media, where alcohol companies can reach millions of young people with little oversight. #cancer #alcohol @uicc From sports to music, alcohol companies are often major sponsors of popular events. But at what cost? This is particularly concerning when it comes to young people, who may be more vulnerable to the influence of advertising. It's time for stronger regulations to protect public health and ensure that alcohol companies are not able to exploit these events to market their products. #cancer #alcohol @uicc LEARN MORE Obesity, diet and nutrition messages Did you know that living with obesity can increase your risk of cancer? Take control of your health and make small changes every day to reduce your risk. @uicc Living with obesity can increase your risk of many types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer. But making small lifestyle changes, like choosing healthier foods and moving more, can make a big impact on your health. @uicc Did you know that many ultra-processed foods are designed to be addictive? Food companies use aggressive marketing tactics to sell unhealthy products directed to youth and vulnerable population. @uicc Ultra-processed foods often lack in nutrients and can contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. @uicc Tobacco prevention messages Globally 1.8 million deaths are caused by lung cancer annually. Tobacco smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, contributing to roughly 1.2 million deaths per year. Quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of lung cancer. #NoTobacco #TobaccoExposed @uicc Tobacco taxation is one of the most effective and cost-effective measures for controlling tobacco use and preventing NCDs, including cancer. #NoTobacco #TobaccoExposed @uicc Tobacco goes far beyond an issue of health – it places a tremendous burden on countries least equipped to respond to tobacco-related illness and death. #NoTobacco #TobaccoExposed @uicc General prevention messages Did you know that up to 50% of cancer cases are preventable? Making healthy choices, like eating a balanced diet, staying active, and avoiding tobacco, can significantly reduce your risk of cancer. @uicc Incorporating healthy choices into your daily routine can make a big impact on your overall health and reduce your risk of cancer. Eating a balanced diet, regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco use are important steps in reducing the risk of cancer. @uicc Effective actions by governments, organisations and individuals to reduce the risk factors for cancer, such as the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods, can help prevent over one-third of all cancers. @uicc Prevention videos UICC's work UICC works across the spectrum of cancer prevention, collaborating with member organisations and expert networks on evidence-based advocacy. Representing UICC’s global membership, our role is to raise the voice of the cancer community in global health discussions of the importance of cancer prevention policies and programmes. Key opportunities include: Participating in the World Health Assembly and advocating for comprehensive, evidence-based cancer and NCD prevention commitments such as the FCTC, the Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, and the Global strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer. Supporting implementation of the Framework Convention for tobacco control (FCTC) globally, representing UICC and helping its members to participate in the FCTC Conference of the Parties, and communicating its decisions to support national advocacy efforts on tobacco control. Supporting the global cervical cancer elimination initiative by advocating for its implementation by WHO Member States and supporting UICC members with key advocacy resources. International Collaboration on Nutrition in relation to Cancer (ICONIC) partnership to improve the cancer community’s awareness of nutrition and cancer and build better synergies between the nutrition and cancer communities. Raise awareness of the link between air pollution and cancer and engage in climate health advocacy In collaboration with the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF), the Swedish Cancer Society (Cancerfonden), the Danish Cancer Society and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), UICC launched the Reimagining Cancer Research in Europe initiative at the World Cancer Congress in Geneva in 2022. The initiative aims to support the scale-up of existing evidence-based interventions for cancer prevention into health system policies and practices in Europe to reduce the burden of cancer. As part of this initiative, UICC supports implementation research projects on cancer prevention in Europe.” UICC works to engage the whole public health community to address cancer and NCD risk factors in order to utilise every opportunity to reduce the burden of the disease and promote equity in access to information and services related to cancer. References [1] IARC, Global Cancer Observatory [2]Ibid. Tags Cancer prevention cancer and nutrition Last update Wednesday 06 December 2023 Share this page
