Risk Factors for Cancer Deaths

Risk Factors

There are a wide variety of factors that are known to increase the risk of cancer, including several that are potentially modifiable (ex. tobacco and alcohol use, diet, and sun exposure) and others that are not (ex. family medical history and inherited genetic mutations). Not including skin cancer, at least 42% of newly diagnosed cancers in the US are potentially avoidable, including 19% of cancers caused by smoking and at least 18% caused by a combination of poor nutrition, physical inactivity, excess body weight, and alcohol consumption.^1^[[br]] Screening can help prevent colorectal and cervical cancers by identifying and removing precaners before they turn into cancer. Screening can also reduce mortality for cancers of the breast, lung, and prostate by detecting cancer early, when treatment is most effective.^1^[[br]] [[br]] ---- 1. American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2024, p.1.