Lifestyle changes ‘could lead to large drop in cancer cases’
AROUND 7,200 cases of cancer a year in Wales could be prevented through lifestyle changes, according to new figures. This equates to around 140 cancer cases a week in Wales, which is 38% of all cancers diagnosed each year in Wales.
Across the UK, the study found that more than 135,000 cases of cancer a year could be prevented.
The latest figures, calculated from 2015 cancer data and in partnership with experts at Public Health Wales, found that smoking remains the biggest preventable cause of cancer despite the continued decline in smoking rates in Wales.
Tobacco smoke caused around 1,800 cases of cancer in men (19% of all male cancer cases) and around 1,200 (13%) in women in 2015, according to the research published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Excess weight is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking in Wales.
Around 1,000 (5%) cases of cancer a year are down to being overweight or obese.
This amounts to around 590 (6%) cases of cancer in women and around 450 (5%) in men.
Obesity causes 13 types of cancer, including bowel, breast, womb and kidney.
And the results suggest that 1 in 20 cancer cases in Wales could be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight.
In recent weeks, Cancer Research UK has been running a campaign across the UK featuring posters and radio adverts to increase awareness that obesity can cause cancer.
Andy Glyde, Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Wales, said: “These research findings are startling in that, for the first time, we can see how many cases of cancer in Wales could be prevented by things like not smoking and keeping a healthy weight.
“It’s clear from this research that obesity is a major problem. Obesity causes 13 types of cancer and carries with it stark consequences for society, our economy and the NHS.
“As part of its forthcoming obesity strategy, we urge the Welsh Government to be ambitious and include bold measures such as restricting supermarket special offers on unhealthy foods.
“Preventing children from accessing junk food from school would also go a long way to protecting future generations from the consequences of carrying too much weight.”
The third biggest preventable cause of cancer in Wales is exposure to certain substances at work, for example asbestos.
Workplace exposures cause around 760 cases of cancer a year (4% of all cancer cases). Many of these cases are linked to historical exposure from work in construction and manufacturing.
Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “Leading a healthy life doesn’t guarantee that a person won’t get cancer, but it can stack the odds in your favour. These figures show that we each can take positive steps to help reduce our individual risk of the disease.
“This research clearly demonstrates the impact of smoking and obesity on cancer risk. Prevention is the most cost-effective way of beating cancer.”
Jyoti Atri, deputy director for Health and Wellbeing at Public Health Wales, which provided data for the research project, said: “A large proportion of cancers are linked to known and preventable risk factors such as smoking and obesity.
“These are also risk factors for many other diseases, such as heart disease and stroke.
“The new Public Health Wales 10-year strategy has identified tobacco and obesity as priority areas that we will focus on to prevent as many cancers as we can.”
Key preventable risk factors: Tobacco smoke
Number of cancer cases per year in Wales: 3,073
Percentage of all cancer cases in Wales: 16.1%
Number of cancer cases per year in the UK: 54,271
Percentage of all cancer cases in the UK: 15.1%
Being overweight or obese
Number of cancer cases per year in Wales: 1,040 Percentage of all cancer cases in Wales: 5.4% Number of cancer cases per year in the UK: 22,761
Percentage of all cancer cases in the UK: 6.3%
Occupational exposures
Number of cancer cases per year in Wales: 765
Percentage of all cancer cases in Wales: 4.0%
Number of cancer cases per year in the UK: 13,558
Percentage of all cancer cases in the UK: 3.8%