Medical Minute: Preventable Cancers Highlighted In American Cancer Society Report

The American Cancer Society estimates more than two million people will be diagnosed with cancer this year, but experts say nearly 40% of cancers in adults 30 and older are preventable through lifestyle changes and early screenings.

Smoking remains a leading risk factor, accounting for nearly 20% of lung cancer cases.

That’s more than 100,000 preventable lung cancers in men and over 90,000 in women. According to the National Cancer Institute, quitting smoking can reduce the risk of lung cancer by 30 to 50% within 10 years and cut the risk of mouth cancer in half after five years.

Colorectal cancer is the third most preventable type of cancer, according to Dr. Glessing.

“It is so incredibly important that we get the word out there that colorectal cancer is something that we can actually prevent,” Dr. Glessing said, noting that regular screenings can eliminate the risk of cancer by identifying and removing precancerous polyps, which take about 10 years to develop.

Other preventable cancers include anal cancer, which can be reduced through hepatitis B and HPV vaccinations.

The American Cancer Society encourages early detection using the acronym CAUTION: Change in bowels, A sore that doesn’t heal, Unusual bleeding, Thickening or lump, Indigestion, Obvious change in wart or mole, and Nagging cough.

“I think the more we talk about it, the more we educate people about it, the greater likelihood that people will actually come in and get screened,” Dr. Glessing said.

Researchers also warn that excessive body weight, alcohol consumption, and ultraviolet radiation increase the risk of cancer.