Global Cancer Fight: 4 in 10 Cases Are Preventable

Up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented, according to a groundbreaking new global analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Released ahead of World Cancer Day on 4 February, the study highlights the immense potential of prevention in significantly reducing the global cancer burden.

The comprehensive analysis, drawing on data from 185 countries and 36 cancer types, examined 30 preventable causes. For the first time, this included nine cancer-causing infections alongside well-known factors such as tobacco, alcohol, high body mass index, physical inactivity, air pollution, and ultraviolet radiation.

Understanding the Preventable Burden

The study estimates that approximately 7.1 million new cancer cases in 2022, equating to 37% of all new diagnoses, were directly linked to preventable causes. Tobacco emerged as the leading preventable cause globally, responsible for 15% of all new cancer cases. Infections followed closely at 10%, with alcohol consumption accounting for 3%.

Dr. André Ilbawi, WHO Team Lead for Cancer Control and an author of the study, emphasized the significance of these findings. “This is the first global analysis to show how much cancer risk comes from causes we can prevent,” he stated. “By examining patterns across countries and population groups, we can provide governments and individuals with more specific information to help prevent many cancer cases before they start.”

Key Cancers and Their Triggers

Three specific cancer types—lung, stomach, and cervical cancer—accounted for nearly half of all preventable cases across both men and women globally. Lung cancer was primarily attributed to smoking and air pollution, while stomach cancer was largely linked to Helicobacter pylori infection. Cervical cancer was overwhelmingly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, Deputy Head of the IARC Cancer Surveillance Unit and senior author of the study, highlighted the innovative scope of the research. “This landmark study is a comprehensive assessment of preventable cancer worldwide, incorporating for the first time infectious causes of cancer alongside behavioural, environmental, and occupational risks,” she said. “Addressing these preventable causes represents one of the most powerful opportunities to reduce the global cancer burden.”

Gender and Regional Disparities

The burden of preventable cancer varied significantly between genders and across regions. Men experienced a substantially higher burden, with 45% of new cancer cases linked to preventable causes, compared to 30% in women. For men, smoking accounted for an estimated 23% of all new cancer cases, followed by infections at 9% and alcohol at 4%. Among women, infections were the leading preventable cause at 11%, followed by smoking at 6% and high body mass index at 3%.

Regionally, preventable cancer rates ranged widely. Among women, the figures varied from 24% in North Africa and West Asia to 38% in sub-Saharan Africa. For men, East Asia showed the highest burden at 57%, while Latin America and the Caribbean had the lowest at 28%. These disparities reflect diverse exposures to risk factors, socioeconomic development, national prevention policies, and health system capacities.

A Call for Coordinated Prevention

The findings underscore an urgent need for context-specific prevention strategies. These include robust tobacco control measures, stringent alcohol regulation, widespread vaccination against cancer-causing infections like HPV and hepatitis B, improved air quality, safer workplaces, and the promotion of healthier food environments and physical activity. Coordinated action across various sectors—from health and education to energy, transport, and labour—is crucial to preventing millions of families from experiencing the profound burden of a cancer diagnosis. Addressing these preventable risk factors not only reduces cancer incidence but also lowers long-term healthcare costs and significantly improves overall population health and well-being.