That's why we suffer from cancerous tumors. This lifestyle can prevent cancer

Smoking, lack of exercise, obesity: many cancers are preventable

A few months ago, British scientists published a study that found that about four out of ten cases of cancer could have been prevented if the sufferers had maintained a healthier lifestyle. German researchers are now coming to similar conclusions: almost 40 percent of new cases of cancer in Germany are due to lifestyle and environmental factors.

Around 40 percent of new cancers preventable

Although there are still many types of cancer, whose triggers are not known, but "we now know many factors that can cause different cancers - but not necessarily have," writes the Bavarian Cancer Society on its website. In order to reduce the risk of personal cancer, it makes sense to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is also the opinion of scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). According to the experts, a good 40 percent of cancer cases would be preventable if certain risk factors were minimized.

Smoking and high alcohol consumption are among the biggest preventable cancer risk factors. A healthier lifestyle could prevent about 40 percent of new cancer cases. (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com)

Unhealthy lifestyle and environmental factors

Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) calculated that approximately 165,000 of the approximately 440,000 cancers due in 2018 are due to lifestyle and environmental factors.

These include, above all, smoking, physical inactivity, overweight and infections.

An author group led by Hermann Brenner from the DKFZ reports in the "Deutsches Ärzteblatt" how these cancer risk factors have a concrete effect on the number of cancer cases in Germany.

Selected risk factors for cancer

In their investigations, the DKFZ experts dealt with selected risk factors for cancer.

In one study, they studied smoking and alcohol, another with obesity, low physical activity and unhealthy diet, and a third with infections and selected environmental factors.

According to the researchers, it is estimated that of the 440,000 cancer incidents expected this year among 35- to 84-year-olds, around 165,000 (37.4 percent) are attributable to the risk factors studied.

It was also noted that the total number of environmental neoplasms could probably be higher, as other factors such as the risk of skin cancer due to UV radiation were not taken into account.

Despite the calculations, however, it must not be overlooked that even the healthiest lifestyle does not provide 100% protection against cancer.

Smoking is the biggest avoidable risk factor

Here are the results of the DKFZ scientists:

According to the extrapolation, smoking accounts for the majority of preventable cancer cases. Thus, an estimated 85,072 diseases in the current year can be attributed to tobacco consumption.

According to data, 89 percent of all lung cancers in men and 83 percent of all lung cancers in women are due to smoking.

As early as the 1960s, health professionals recognized that there was a causal link between tobacco use and various cancers.

"Today, smoking is considered the largest preventable cancer risk factor, which is causally associated with twelve different cancers," it says in the "Deutsches Ärzteblatt".

Health experts therefore rightly point out the importance of giving up smoking.

High alcohol consumption

Of the cancer incidents expected in 2018, almost 9,600 (around 2%) are attributed to high alcohol consumption.

Alcohol can promote at least seven different variants of cancer, according to scientific findings.

"While there are more alcohol-related cancers for women, overall, the total number of alcohol-attributable cancers in men is more than five times higher than that of women," the researchers said.

One reason for this difference is that the average amount consumed is higher in men than in women.

Overweight and lack of exercise

Also, lack of exercise and overweight increase the risk of cancer.

According to the researchers of the DKFZ, about 30,600 (about 7%) of the new cases expected in 2018 will be due to obesity and about 27,100 (about 6%) to low physical activity.

A physically active life can prevent cancerous diseases.

Unhealthy diet

According to the scientists, about 14,500 (about three percent) of the expected diseases are associated with low fiber intake.

About 9,500 (about 2 percent) are associated with low fruit and vegetable intake, another about 9,500 with sausage consumption and about 1,700 (about 0.4 percent) with high red meat consumption and about 1,200 (about 0.3 percent) with high salt intake.

Earlier research has shown that one should better dispense with certain meat products such as cured sausages and should rely on a diet high in whole grains to protect against cancer.

Infections and selected environmental factors

"Our results show that of all cancer incidents to be expected in 2018 in Germany, at least 5% are due to infections and selected environmental factors," according to the DKFZ experts.

Of these, more than 17,600 cancer cases are due to infections. It is reported that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which can cause stomach cancer, and human papillomavirus (HPV) contribute to most of these diseases.

The HPV vaccine prevented many cancer cases.

More than 5,400 cancer cases will be due to environmental risk factors such as indoor radioactive gas Radon, particulate matter, solarium use and passive smoking.

More consistent prevention

"The authors conclude by calling for more consistent prevention with regard to tobacco, alcohol consumption, obesity, unhealthy diet and low physical activity," states the Deutsches Ärzteblatt..

"They also call for specific preventive measures with regard to infections and environmental factors."

However, further research is needed for more comprehensive identification and quantification of environmental risks.

Studies have shown that the number of new cancer diagnoses in Germany has almost doubled since 1970.

However, the cancer mortality rate in Germany and the EU has declined significantly in recent years.

This is especially true in the Federal Republic of Germany for colorectal cancer, as an international research team recently reported in the journal "Annals of Oncology".

The highest mortality in the EU, according to the researchers, is lung cancer, with 32 out of 100,000 men and 15 out of 100,000 women. About one in five cancer-related deaths in the EU is therefore accounted for by lung cancer. (Ad)