45% of cancer deaths are preventable! Latest research reveals 6 major factors: obesity causes the largest increase in cancer deaths
45% of global cancer deaths are preventable! Smoking, drinking, and obesity are the most common
Cancer is one of the main causes of death for people in modern countries and is also an important global public health medical issue. Although medical technology is developing towards personalized precision medicine, how to prevent the occurrence of cancer is still closely related to the general public.
The latest research published in “The Lancet” pointed out that from various statistical data in 2019, there were nearly 4.5 million avoidable cancer deaths, accounting for more than 44% of global cancer deaths. Among them, smoking, drinking, body mass index ( BMI) is most relevant.
Justin Lang, one of the co-authors of the study and an epidemiologist at the Center for Surveillance and Applied Research at the Public Health Agency of Canada, said that some countries lack complete cancer statistics and medical records, resulting in inaccurate estimates of the number of cancers and deaths worldwide. The research team used 204 countries and 350 disease and death statistics to analyze 34 risk factors for death and 23 influencing factors related to cancer death to explore differences.
The results showed that all male patients and more than one-third of women who died of cancer in 2019 died from preventable cancer risk factors, including smoking, drinking, unhealthy diet, unsafe sex, and workplace abuse. Related to asbestos exposure. From 2010 to 2019, the number of deaths caused by these preventable cancer risk factors increased by about 20%, with overweight (obesity) increasing the most, especially in low-income countries.
Rudolf Kaaks, a cancer epidemiologist at the Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, Germany, commented on the study. “This analysis confirms the results of many small studies and once again highlights the concept that reducing risk factors can prevent the vast majority of cancers.” Scientific evidence is a clear warning to the world: don’t smoke, don’t drink too much, don’t be overweight (obese).
Moderate or higher intensity exercise can prevent 7 major cancers! Can reduce cancer risk by up to 28%
The most important key to preventing cancer is to avoid unhealthy lifestyles, lack of exercise, and obesity. A comprehensive study by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in 2018 pointed out that various exercises include aerobic exercise (fast walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, Tai Chi, dancing, skipping) and weight training etc., can reduce the risk of cancer by 12%-28%.
There is currently a high degree of evidence that exercise can effectively fight cancers, including esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer and endometrial cancer, and moderate evidence for lung cancer.
The positive benefits of moderate to high-intensity exercise on the human body include: improving immune function, increasing antioxidant capacity, improving intestinal microflora, increasing sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and increasing adiponectin concentration. At the same time, moderate-intensity exercise can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, reduce adipose tissue, hyperinsulinemia, and regulate leptin and sex hormone secretion.
Why exercise can reduce cancer? The correlation can be seen in changes in biomarkers. Chronic inflammation has been proven to be related to cancer. Common inflammatory factors such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are closely related to cancer cells. Studies have shown that regular moderate-to-intensity exercise can reduce biomarkers related to systemic inflammation, thereby reducing the occurrence of cancer.
Prostate, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers are on the rise! 86% are over 55 years old
According to the latest data released by the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, cancer (malignant tumors) continues to be the top ten cause of death in 2021. It has been the number one cause of death in Taiwan for 40 consecutive years, and the number of deaths in 2021 is higher than the previous year. The increase was 3.5%, and the standardized death rate also increased by 0.7%. The number of deaths was mostly concentrated in people over 55 years old, accounting for 86%.
Comparing the 2020 cancer death statistics with the 2021 data, lung cancer and liver cancer have ranked in the top two for 42 consecutive years. The long-term trend distribution of various cancers shows that prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer are As the ranking goes up, the number of deaths from gastric cancer goes down.
Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare recommends that the main way to prevent cancer is first to refuse smoking, alcohol, and betel nut; second to maintain a healthy posture; and third to develop the habit of regular exercise. Exercising for 30 minutes a day can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, breast cancer and endometrial cancer, and is even an anti-cancer prescription for some cancers. And eat more vegetables and fruits to help protect cells in the body and reduce the risk of cell cancer. We also call for proper use of cancer screening resources to increase the early occurrence of cancer and increase survival and good prognosis.
source:
Statistics on causes of death in Taiwan in 2021 - Ministry of Health and Welfare
Physical Activity and Cancer Risk. Actual Knowledge and Possible Biological Mechanisms
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