An international scale study published in a journal Nature Medicine brings crucial news to the world of health. The study revealed that more than a third, or around 38 percent of new cancer cases worldwide, could have been prevented by controlling common risk factors such as smoking, infections and alcohol consumption.
Based on data released on Friday (6/2/2026), of the total of 18.7 million new cancer cases globally in 2022, 7.1 million cases were closely related to causes that could be modified or managed. Gastric, lung and cervical cancer are recorded as contributing almost half of the total cases that could have been avoided.
Main Risk Factors: Smoking and Infections This research, which covers 36 types of cancer in 185 countries, places smoking tobacco as the largest contributor, responsible for 15 percent of preventable cases. In second place, infection accounted for 10 percent of cases, followed by alcohol consumption by 3 percent.
- In Men: Smoking is the dominant risk factor worldwide, causing almost 25 percent of all avoidable cases.
- In Women: Infectious factors, such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV), poses a serious threat, especially in low-income regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, where cervical cancer remains very common.
Differences in Challenges in Different Regions The results of this study highlight the existence of geographic disparities in cancer drivers. In high-income areas such as Europe and North America, smoking is the main cause of cancer cases in men and women. On the other hand, in Asia, Africa and South America, infection is the second main cause after smoking.
The researchers emphasized that these findings aim to help governments and health institutions in various countries in developing more specific prevention strategies. Instead of using a uniform approach, health policies are expected to focus on the greatest risk factors in each region to significantly reduce the burden of cancer in the future.
By controlling lifestyle and increasing access to vaccination against certain infections, millions of people could potentially avoid a cancer diagnosis in the future.
date:2026-02-07 13:03:00
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