Four out of ten cases of cancer can be prevented.

BarcelonaAlthough the great advances of the last few decades in the fight against cancerThe most effective tool to combat the disease is not the result of any scientific discovery nor does it depend on cutting-edge technology. For example, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, or exercising has a significant impact on our health, to the point that almost four out of ten cancer cases could be prevented by avoiding these risk factors. This is the conclusion of a global investigation led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which determined that 7.1 million preventable cancer cases were diagnosed worldwide in 2022.

The study, published this Tuesday in the journal Nature MedicineThe study analyzes 36 types of cancer in 185 countries during 2022, when 18.7 million new cases of the disease were detected. Of these, 37.8% can be attributed to a modifiable risk factor—that is, environmental, infectious, behavioral, and occupational threats that cause cancer and can be prevented. It should be noted that, while cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, mortality varies from country to country, as populations are exposed to different types of modifiable risk factors. For example, infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the greatest preventable risks among women, as it is responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancer. However, many countries have a vaccine that prevents infection. In Catalonia, the HPV vaccine was included in the vaccination schedule for girls between 9 and 14 years old almost two decades ago, and since the 2022-23 school year, boys between 11 and 12 years old have also been vaccinated, as they too can be infected with HPV and develop cancers such as anal cancer. Despite the success of the vaccination program, many countries do not have sufficient resources to extend it to their entire population.

Differences between men and women

According to the study's findings, smoking, infections, and alcohol consumption were the main modifiable risk factors in 2022. In fact, researchers estimate that lung, stomach, and cervical cancers account for almost half of these potentially preventable cases. However, they do not affect men and women equally. For example, in Spain, 41.8% of cancer cases in men are attributed to modifiable external factors, compared to 26.1% in women, with smoking remaining the leading factor (28.5% and 9.9%, respectively). These differences between men and women are observed in various countries. For women, in addition to infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), there is also infection caused by bacteria. Helicobacter pylori, which is associated with 11.5% of cases. For men, the greatest risk factor was smoking, which was associated with 23.1% of cases.

Expand screenings

In Catalonia, two of the most common types of cancer are colorectal and breast cancer, which can be detected early through existing public healthcare screening programs. These programs target the population between 50 and 69 years old. The goal is to detect precancerous lesions or tumors in their initial stages and act quickly, as early detection has been shown to facilitate treatment and increase the chances of a cure. The Catalan Federation of Entities Against Cancer (FECEC), however, warns that in recent years there has been an increase in cases of breast and colorectal cancer in younger ages and in people over 69, and therefore emphasizes "the need to expand these age ranges." In this regard, it notes that the European Commission recommends extending colorectal cancer screening to age 74 and breast cancer screening from age 45 to 74.