40% of Cancer Cases Preventable: Smoking, Infection & Alcohol Key Risks – 2026 Study

A new study indicates that approximately 40 percent of newly diagnosed cancer cases worldwide could largely be prevented. Published on Tuesday in the journal Nature Medicine, the research identifies smoking as contributing to more cancer cases than any other risk factor, followed by infection and alcohol consumption. The findings were released the day before World Cancer Day.

Smoking and Infection Lead Preventable Cancer Causes

Of the 18 million and 700 thousand new cancer cases globally in 2022, around seven million and 100 thousand – equivalent to 38 percent – were attributed to preventable causes. Stomach, lung, and cervical cancers accounted for nearly half of these preventable cases. Approximately 15 percent of preventable cases are linked to tobacco smoking, the primary risk factor, while 10 percent are attributed to infection and 3 percent to alcohol use.

Among nine million and 200 thousand new cases in women, around 30 percent were considered avoidable, with over 11 percent linked to infections such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The majority of these cases were recorded in low- and middle-income regions, like sub-Saharan Africa, where cervical cancer is particularly prevalent. Smoking was the most significant contributing factor to cancer cases among women in high-income regions, including most of Europe and North America.

Smoking was also the largest contributor to cancer cases globally among men, in both low- and high-income countries, linked to nearly 25 percent of the four million and 300 thousand preventable cases. Infection was the second leading cause of cancer in men, particularly in Asia, Africa, and South America.

The analysis aims to facilitate the development of more effective cancer prevention strategies by considering regional differences and the most prominent risk factors, rather than relying on a universal approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of cancer cases are potentially preventable?

Approximately 38 percent of cancer cases, equating to around seven million and 100 thousand cases globally in 2022, are attributed to preventable causes.

What are the leading preventable risk factors for cancer?

Smoking is the leading preventable risk factor, followed by infection and alcohol consumption.

How does cancer risk vary between men and women?

Smoking is the largest contributor to cancer cases in both men and women, but infection plays a more significant role in men, particularly in Asia, Africa, and South America, while HPV-related infections are a major factor for women in low- and middle-income regions.

Given these findings, what steps do you think are most crucial for reducing the global burden of preventable cancers?