(Image source: TopNews.in)
BY EMILY SPAIN
You're watching multisource science/health news analysis from Newsy.
A cure for cancer? Not quite, but a new study out of the UK suggests lifestyle changes can prevent 40 percent of cancer cases.
Researchers looked at data on cancer cases in the UK from 1993 to 2007. Then calculated the proportion of cancers that could be linked to different risk factors.
UTV has the details:
“Smoking, unhealthy diet, alcohol and excess weight, four factors that cause over 100,000 cases of cancer across the UK each year. Cancer Research UK report says the choices we make all put us at risk for the disease.”
The biggest cancer culprit? The study points to smoking, which made up an average of 19 percent of new cancer cases.
But a writer for the Telegraph isn’t convinced by the stats, and argues the study shouldn’t blame people for their cancer.
“The massive anxiety caused by the word ‘cancer’, the possible financial hardship and the effects of treatment are enough to bear without having the blame laid at your door. Lifestyle choices may have a huge effect on our general health – or they may not. There are constant examples of people who did not conform to the suggested lifestyle and live long and productive lives.”
But the Chief Executive for the Cancer Research UK says the study is not about pointing fingers; it’s about educating people.
“It’s about making people aware of what is the truth... These are things that we want people to be aware of because it means that they can significantly stack the odds in their favor.”
The NHS sees both sides -- reporting that non-lifestyle factors play a part, but that living healthily definitely helps.
“ … the individual risk of different cancers depends not only on lifestyle but on other factors including genetic make-up, family history and getting older. Leading a healthy lifestyle is not a cast-iron guarantee against cancer, but it does reduce the risk of getting it.”
Besides putting out the cig, the study advises that men need to eat more fruits and veggies while women need to watch their weight.
Transcript by Newsy.
