One-third of cancers are preventable, says WHO

WHO says more than one-third of cancer cases are preventable. [Coutesy]

Cancer is among the top leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths.

The most common cancers are lung, breast, colon and rectum and prostate cancers.

Nearly a quarter of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, alcohol consumption, high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity. In addition, air pollution is an important risk factor for lung cancer.

Cancer-causing infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis, are responsible for approximately 30 per cent of cancer cases in low- and lower-middle-income countries.