A global analysis released on February 4, by the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that up to four in every ten new cancer cases could be prevented through changes in behaviour, stronger policies, and public health action.
The findings, published to coincide with World Cancer Day, draw on a Nature Medicine study that analysed data from 185 countries and 36 cancer types.
According to the report, about 37 per cent of the 18.7 million new cancer cases recorded in 2022 were linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, infections, and lifestyle exposures.
Maria Neira, WHO director of environment, climate change and health, said, “The science is clear.
“A large portion of cancers particularly those related to tobacco, infections and unhealthy environments are not inevitable.
“They are preventable.”
Tobacco remains the single largest preventable cause of cancer, accounting for roughly 15 per cent of new cases globally, the report shows.
Other major contributors include infectious agents such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Helicobacter pylori, which together account for about 10 per cent of cases.
Elisabete Weiderpass, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO, said, “Smoking- and infection-associated cancers continue to take an enormous toll.
“Effective prevention is not only possible it must be prioritised.”
One of the starkest examples of preventable disease highlighted in the research is cervical cancer, which is overwhelmingly caused by HPV a virus for which safe vaccines exist.
Similarly, cancers linked to H. pylori infection, which can be treated or prevented through improved sanitation and medical screening, were also prominent.
“We are at a moment where public health interventions such as HPV vaccination, tobacco control measures, and healthier environmental policies could save millions of lives,” Weiderpass said.
The WHO analysis also found significant differences in preventable cancer burdens between regions and sexes: In men, about 45 per cent of cancers were attributable to modifiable factors.
In women, the figure was lower, at around 30 per cent.
Regional estimates varied widely, with areas such as East Asia, Latin America, North Africa and West Asia showing different patterns of preventable risk exposure.
Neira added, “These differences reflect variation in lifestyles, environmental exposures, and access to preventive care.
“This is why tailored, locally relevant strategies are essential.”
The WHO is urging governments and health systems worldwide to scale up proven interventions from tobacco taxation and public smoking bans to vaccinations and air quality improvements.
Neira noted, “We must shift the focus upstream.
“Investing in prevention not only saves lives but reduces long-term health costs and strengthens resilient health systems.”
The WHO study underscores that while cancer remains a major global health challenge, a substantial share of the disease burden nearly four in every ten cases could be averted through strategic public health action, political will, and community engagement.
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