Seven million cancers yearly dey preventable as report list contributors to more dan 18 million cancer cases

Dem fit prevent di cancer of seven million pipo each year, according to di first global analysis.

One report by di World Health Organization (WHO) scientists estimate say 37% of cancers dey caused by infections, lifestyle choices and environmental pollutants wey fit dey avoided.

Dis include cervical cancers wey human papilloma virus (HPV) infections dey cause, which vaccination fit help prevent, plus a host of tumours wey tobacco smoke from cigarettes dey cause.

Di researchers tok say dia report show say "powerful opportunity" dey to transform di lives of millions of pipo.

Some cancers dey wey pesin no fit avoid - either becos of damage we dey unavoidably build up for our DNA as we age or becos we inherit genes wey dey put us for greater risk of di disease.

But researcher Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram say "pipo dey shocked to hear say" nearly four in 10 cancers dey preventable as na "substantial number".

Di International Agency for Research on Cancer, wey be part of WHO, bin analyse 30 preventable factors wey dey known to increase di risk of cancer.

These include smoking and ultraviolet (UV) radiation wey fit directly damage our DNA; obesity and too little physical activity wey alter inflammation and hormones for di body to raise cancer risk; and air pollution wey fit wake up dormant cancer cells.

Di agency report also look di nine cancer-causing infections wey include HPV, hepatitis viruses wey dey lead to liver cancer and di stomach bug H. pylori.

Di team bin use data on cancer cases from 2022 and from di 30 risk factors a decade earlier – across 185 countries - to perform dia statistical analysis.

Di big three contributors to more dan 18 million cancer cases around di world wey dem find na:

However, di overall figures show di true picture of cancer risk around di world.

Simple sex-divide dey wit 45% of men cancers wey dey preventable compared wit 30% for women, partly down to higher levels of smoking among men.

For women wey dey live for Europe, di top three preventable causes of cancer na smoking, closely followed by infection and then obesity.

While in sub-Saharan Africa, infections dominate and account for nearly 80% of preventable cancers in women.

Dis one mean say dem must tailor any measures dem go need to tackle these cancers to each region or kontri.

"Dis landmark study na comprehensive assessment of preventable cancer worldwide, incorporating for di first time infectious causes of cancer alongside behavioural, environmental, and occupational risks," Soerjomataram, di deputy head of di IARC Cancer Surveillance Unit tok.

"Addressing these preventable causes represent one of di most powerful opportunities to reduce di global cancer burden."

Di report, wey dey published for di journal Nature Medicine, show how lung cancer (wey dey linked to smoking and air pollution) stomach cancer (linked to H. pylori infection) and cervical cancer (linked to HPV infection) make up nearly half of all preventable cases of cancer.

Dr Andre Ilbawi, team lead for cancer control for WHO, tok say di study na "good news" as e show say dem fit do something and e point to di success of countries wey don introduce policies to tackle smoking or vaccinate against HPV.

"Di percentage of preventable cancers fit change over time and our goal na to get am as close to zero as possible," e tok.