Overview
- An estimated 7.1 million of 18.7 million new cancer cases in 2022 were attributable to modifiable factors, according to a Nature Medicine analysis covering 185 countries.
- Tobacco accounted for about 15% of new cases globally, followed by infections at roughly 10% and alcohol at about 3%.
- Lung, stomach and cervical cancers made up nearly half of preventable cases, linked respectively to smoking and air pollution, Helicobacter pylori, and HPV.
- The share of cancers tied to modifiable risks was about 45% in men versus 30% in women, with notable regional variation such as 57% in men in East Asia and 38% in women in sub‑Saharan Africa.
- The assessment examined 30 risk factors across 36 cancer types and, for the first time, systematically included nine cancer‑causing infections, underscoring priorities like tobacco control, vaccination, cleaner air and safer workplaces.