Health
Four in Ten Cancers Worldwide Are Attributable to Preventable Risk Factors
A major global study analyzing cancer burden across 185 countries found that 40 percent of cancers are linked to modifiable risk factors—from tobacco to obesity to infections—highlighting vast prevention opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- A study of 185 countries found that 40% of global cancer cases are attributable to modifiable risk factors including tobacco, obesity, and infections
- Risk factor patterns vary substantially by region—infection-driven cancers dominate in lower-income countries while obesity and alcohol drive more cases in wealthy nations
- Vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B, plus H. pylori treatment, could prevent millions of cancer cases if scaled globally
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DT Editorial AI··via nature.com