Cancer Council Australia says 1/3 of cancers preventable by lifestyle factors

A recent study by University of Manchester researchers that suggests cancer is man-made indicates a better understanding of the diseases that is the second-leading cause of deaths in the US. A new research, released on Wednesday by Cancer Council Australia, debunks popular belief that everything causes cancer.

The study estimates one-third of cancers could be prevented by lifestyle factors, reports Stuff.co.nz. But the figure could be as high as 40 percent of cancer diagnoses and 50 percent of all cancer-related deaths could be prevented by making lifestyle changes, says Professor Sanchia Aranda, CEO of the council.

Aranda cites four lifestyle changes suggested by health experts. These are no smoking, no or moderate alcohol consumption, keeping a healthy body weight based on a body mass index between 18.5 and 27.5 and regular physical activity.

The physical activity could either be moderate aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, five days a week, or high-intensity exercises for 15 minutes, five days a week.

The council based its recommendation on health outcomes of over 135,000 people, aged between 30 and 75. Aranda stresses that only 10 percent of all cancer diagnoses are genetic.

“All cancer is caused by genetic mutations, but not all cancer is inherited … You can do something other than choosing your parents carefully,” she says.

On Feb 4, to mark World Cancer Day, Aranda disclosed that for the first time, the number of Australians living with cancer or have survived diagnosis reached 1.1 million. She added around 130,000 Aussies would likely be diagnosed in 2016, but more than 65 percent would likely survive for five years, with many going into remission.