Originally published December 12 2005
List emphasizes ways to lower cancer fatalities worldwide
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
WebMD shares a list of modifiable factors compiled by Goodarz Danaei, MD, of Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard's Initiative for Global Health, that can reduce the risks of cancer worldwide, and the list includes smoking, alcohol use, body weight and air pollution.
More than a third of the world's cancer deaths in 2001 stemmed from nine potentially modifiable risk factors, new research shows.
Being overweight or obese Physical inactivity Low intake of fruits and vegetables Alcohol use "Unsafe" sex Indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels Contaminated injections in health care settings Air pollution The list comes from researchers including Goodarz Danaei, MD, of Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard's Initiative for Global Health.
The study focuses on the 7 million people worldwide who died of cancer in 2001.
About 2.43 million of those deaths might have been preventable, by the researchers' estimate.
They did some elaborate calculations to arrive at that number.
They had to weigh cancer research, as well as data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Some WHO countries have more medical resources (and better health records) than others.
The researchers took a closer look at those 2.43 million cancer deaths.
Smoking, alcohol use, and weight problems (being overweight or obese) were "the most important causes of cancer" in high-income countries, write the researchers.
Sexual transmission of the human papillomavirus (HPV) -- which can cause cervical cancer -- was a big risk factor for women in low- and middle-income countries, the study also shows.
Other scientists are working on vaccines that target the forms of HPV that cause most cervical cancers.
Meanwhile, using protection to avoid infection might help, write Danaei and colleagues.
You can't change your genes or instantly get rid of the world's air pollution.
Does the researchers' list ring any bells for you?
You may want to talk to your doctor about ways you could lower your cancer risk and about cancer screenings you should get.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml