Cancer Prevention: More than one in three cases can be avoided.

Cancer, before trying (sometimes unsuccessfully) to cure it, can be avoided, in a percentage that exceeds one in three cases, with simple and easy preventive measures. These are the only truly effective measures against a disease that often seems invincible. This conclusion, with all the details of the case, comes from a Relationship edited by a group of researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, published on February 3, 2026 in the journal Nature Medicine.

The study analyzed 30 modifiable risk factors and estimated that approximately 37-38 percent of new cancer cases in the world, almost 4 out of 10, is attributable to preventable causes, such as smoking, alcohol, pollution, infections and other lifestyle factors.

Key prevention strategies include:

Index of topics

1. Healthy lifestyle

Balanced diet: reduce red and processed meats, increase fruits, vegetables and fibre.
Regular physical activity: maintains normal body weight.
Avoid smoking: Tobacco is responsible for many types of cancer.
Limit alcohol: excess increases the risk of some cancers.

2. Environmental protection

Avoid excessive exposure to UV rays without protection.
Limit exposure to carcinogens at work or at home.

3. Vaccinations

Vaccine against theHPV (reduces the risk of cervical cancer).
Vaccine against thehepatitis B (reduces the risk of liver cancer).

4. Screening and early diagnosis

Pap tests, mammograms, colorectal screening, etc. help detect precancerous lesions or early-stage tumors early.

In summary, approximately 30-40 percent of cancers can be prevented by adopting healthy behaviors and participating in screening programs.

The Italian Ministry of Health, through a series of studies conducted by universities and specialized institutes, has also drawn up a sort of ranking in which each unhealthy lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of a particular type of cancer.

Tobacco smoke

It is the main cause of many cancers (lung, bladder and pancreas...) and leads the attribution of preventable cases.

Consumption of alcohol

It contributes to liver, esophageal, and other cancers; according to some studies, approximately 18% of Italian adults engage in risky alcohol use.

Sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity

Inactivity is linked to an increased risk of cancers such as colorectal and breast cancer; approximately 28 percent of the population is sedentary.

Obesity/overweight

Associated with endometrial, renal, and other cancers; the high prevalence of overweight is a major contributor.

More than one in three cancers can be avoided with prevention