Nearly four in every ten cancer cases recorded globally are linked to preventable risk factors, the World Health Organisation has warned, saying millions of lives could be saved if countries invest more aggressively in prevention.
The WHO made stated this in a statement on Tuesday while releasing a new global analysis conducted with its International Agency for Research on Cancer, ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4.
According to the report, “up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented… 37 per cent of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2022 — estimated at about 7.1 million — were caused by factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation and cancer-causing infections.”
Describing the findings as a wake-up call, WHO Team Lead for Cancer Control, Dr André Ilbawi, said the analysis clearly shows that many cancers are not inevitable.
“This is the first global analysis to demonstrate, at this scale, how much cancer risk comes from causes we can prevent,” Ilbawi said, adding that the data provides “governments and individuals with actionable evidence to stop many cancers before they start.”
Drawing on data from 185 countries and 36 cancer types, the study identified tobacco as the leading preventable cause of cancer worldwide, responsible for 15 per cent of all new cases. Infections followed at 10 per cent, while alcohol consumption accounted for three per cent.
Ilbawi noted that these figures highlight where policy action would have the greatest impact.
“By addressing tobacco use, infections and alcohol consumption alone, countries could dramatically reduce their cancer burden,” he said.
The report showed that lung, stomach and cervical cancers together accounted for nearly half of all preventable cancer cases globally.
Lung cancer was largely associated with smoking and air pollution, stomach cancer with Helicobacter pylori infection, and cervical cancer almost entirely with human papillomavirus.
“This study confirms that vaccines, clean air and healthier lifestyles are powerful cancer-prevention tools,” Ilbawi said.
The burden of preventable cancer was found to be significantly higher among men than women. While 45 per cent of new cancer cases in men were linked to preventable causes, the figure stood at 30 per cent for women.
Among men, smoking alone accounted for 23 per cent of new cancer cases, followed by infections and alcohol. Among women, infections were the leading preventable cause, followed by smoking and high body mass index.
Deputy Head of the IARC Cancer Surveillance Unit and senior author of the study, Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram, said the findings underscore the urgency of prevention-focused policies.
“This landmark analysis shows that tackling preventable causes remains one of the most powerful ways to reduce the global cancer burden,” Soerjomataram said. “Prevention is not optional — it is essential.”
She stressed that cancer prevention must go beyond the health sector.
“Strong tobacco control, alcohol regulation, vaccination, cleaner air, safer workplaces and healthier food environments are critical if countries are serious about reducing cancer,” she said.
The report also revealed wide regional disparities. Preventable cancer cases among women ranged from 24 per cent in North Africa and West Asia to 38 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, while among men, East Asia recorded the highest burden at 57 per cent.
According to the WHO, these differences reflect variations in exposure to risk factors, national prevention policies and health-system capacity.
Calling for coordinated action, the organisation said preventing cancer would not only save lives but also reduce long-term healthcare costs and improve overall population wellbeing.
“Cancer prevention is a shared responsibility. When governments act early, millions of families can be spared the physical, emotional and financial burden of a cancer diagnosis, ” Ilbawi said.
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