Study links lifestyle choices to nearly half of U.S. cancer-related deaths

Smoking, physical inactivity and other modifiable lifestyle factors may contribute to roughly half of cancer deaths among U.S. adults 30 and older, according to the results of a recent study.

Using nationally representative data on cancer incidence and mortality and risk factor prevalence, a team led by American Cancer Society researchers also found that 40% of all cancer cases in that age group were linked to modifiable lifestyle factors. Those factors include:

• Cigarette smoking (current and former smoking)
• Alcohol consumption
• Consumption of red/processed meats
• Low consumption of fruits, vegetables, and dietary fiber and calcium
• Excess body weight
• Ultraviolet radiation

Smoking was linked to 30% of cancer deaths and 20% of cancer cases.

“Despite considerable declines in smoking prevalence during the past few decades, the number of lung cancer deaths attributable to cigarette smoking in the United States is alarming,” said lead study author Farhad Islami, senior scientific director for cancer disparity research at the ACS. “This finding underscores the importance of implementing comprehensive tobacco control policies in each state to promote smoking cessation, as well as heightened efforts to increase screening for early detection of lung cancer, when treatment could be more effective.

“Interventions to help maintain healthy body weight and diet can also substantially reduce the number of cancer cases and deaths in the country, especially given the increasing incidence of several cancer types associated with excess body weight, particularly in younger individuals.”

The study was published online in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.