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Study: Excessive Lifestyles Fueling Cancer Rate

Too much sun, alcohol, smoking and obesity blamed

August 10, 2007

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British cancer researchers say their analysis of cancer cases in the last ten years leads them to conclude that lifestyle factors -- excessive sun exposure, alcohol, smoking and obesity -- are fueling an epidemic of the disease.

Statistics released by Cancer Research UK show rates of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, have risen by over 40 per cent in the past decade, making it the fastest rising cancer in the UK.

Incidence of mouth, womb, and kidney cancers have also shown rapid increases in the last 10 years.

The group, the UK’s leading cancer charity, said it is worried about the increases as some cases of these cancers are potentially avoidable. Its research suggests that around half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle.

Two types of cancer were in decline over the ten-year period. The rate of cervical cancers fell as a result of a national screening program and lung cancer cases were down, thanks to an increase in smoking cessation campaigns.

But sun cancer rates were sharply higher. And although rates of malignant melanoma are higher in women and have doubled since the mid-80s, rates have tripled in men in the same period. Heavy sun exposure accounts for the vast majority of cases.

“We're very concerned that cases of malignant melanoma are spiraling,” said Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK's director of health information.

“Exposure to UV radiation in sunlight is the main cause of skin cancer. Most cases of this disease could be prevented if people protected themselves in the sun and took care not to burn.”

Mouth cancer rates have increased by almost a quarter over the last decade. Researchers found that most cases of mouth cancer occur in people who smoke or chew tobacco and regularly drink alcohol.

Over the last 10 years womb cancer rates have increased by over 20 per cent. It is unclear exactly what causes womb cancer, but there are some things that are known to increase a woman’s risk.

Researchers say overweight and obese women are twice as likely to develop womb cancer as women of a healthy weight. This is due to higher than normal exposure to the hormone oestrogen and postmenopausal women who are overweight or obese tend to have higher levels of oestrogen in their bodies.

Rates of kidney cancer have increased by more than 10 per cent over the past decade with smoking and being overweight two of the major risk factors for this disease. Scientists believe smoking doubles the risk of kidney cancer but suggest that the risk of developing the disease falls when people give up smoking.

“While incidence rates for some cancers have fallen over the past decade, others are rising and many of these cases could be prevented if people avoided excessive sun exposure, smoking and obesity and limited their alcohol intake,” said Lucy Morrish, statistical information manager at Cancer Research UK, who compiled the figures.

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