Preventable factors with good habits

WASHINGTON (EFE)— Half of all cancer deaths worldwide each year are the result of modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco use and physical inactivity, according to a report published yesterday by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Now in its fourth edition, the Cancer Atlas report features 47 chapters, with the participation of more than 70 experts and scientists from 35 institutions around the world.

The analysis, which ACS conducted in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), indicates that 19 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year, and 10 million die from the disease each year (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer).

Increase

But the Cancer Atlas warns that without intervention, the numbers could rise to 33 million cases and 18 million deaths by 2050 due to the aging and growth of the global population.

Furthermore, the authors noted that many low-income countries are experiencing rapid increases in lung, colorectal, and breast cancer.

Lung cancer remains the most common and leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 1.8 million deaths annually. More than 1 billion people use tobacco products, one of the main factors behind this disease.

Another focus is cervical cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death among women in 29 sub-Saharan African countries, despite the highly effective HPV vaccine.

The report also found that “cancer mortality rates are disproportionately higher in many low-income countries due to lower survival rates.”

“More than 90% of the population in low- and middle-income countries lacks access to safe and timely surgical care, and 23 low- and middle-income countries with populations greater than one million, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, lack access to radiotherapy,” the statement added.

Poor nutrition

In high-income countries, the rate of colorectal cancer is rising, a rise that may reflect the obesity epidemic and unhealthy diet.

Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, Vice President of ACS, stated: “A significant proportion of cancer in each country can be prevented if resource-stratified cancer prevention and control measures, such as health promotion, tobacco control, and vaccination, are implemented.”

These measures, in his opinion, "are not optimally implemented in many countries due to a lack of political will."

Data from the fourth edition of the Cancer Atlas were presented yesterday at the Cancer Research and Prevention 2025 Conference in London, which runs until June 27.