In 2013, over 350,000 cancer cases, the highest number so far, was recorded. With this alarming number, the U.K.'s World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) published a diagram illustrating the number of people that could be saved from the disease if they begin engaging in healthy habits as early as possible. Put into figures, an estimated 84,000 cases could be hampered if people starts cutting down unhealthy food, losing weight, exercising and avoiding excessive alcoholic and high-sugar content drinks.
"The number of cases of cancer is increasing each year, but we mustn't stand by idly and watch -- there are things that we can do... simple changes to diet and lifestyle can make a huge difference in the battle against cancer," said WCRF's head of research interpretation Rachel Thompson.
She further revealed that next to quitting smoking, maintaining the ideal body weight can decrease risk for cancer. "There is a strong evidence that being overweight or obese increases the risk of 10 cancers," Thompson said.
The following are estimates the study found when lifestyle modifications take place. With the high one-is-to-three ratio of breast cancer in women, around 20,300 cases, that is, 38% can be prevented. In bowel cancer, a rough estimate of 19,800 cases while 2200 and 1400 cases for kidney and pancreatic cancer, respectively, can be averted.
If men were not overweight or obese, some 9% of cases of advanced prostate cancer, which accounts for the leading cause of death (around 26%), can be avoided.
However, Breast Cancer Care's senior clinical nurse specialist Rachel Rawson clearly emphasized that "lifestyle choices will not completely prevent the disease. The main risk factors for breast cancer remain out of control."
Director of wellbeing at Public Health England Professor Kevin Fenton said that "the harsh reality is that we are currently behind on cancer survival rates...and a major factor is that cancer prevention is not a public consciousness."
