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Report Finds Many Cancers Can Be Prevented

Healthier lifestyles can lead to lower risk

February 27, 2009
Approximately 45 percent of colon cancer cases and 38 percent of breast cancer cases in the U.S. are preventable through diet, physical activity and weight management, according to a new global policy report.

The overall message of the report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, published by World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research, is that all sections of society should make public health, and cancer prevention in particular, a higher priority. It includes estimates on the proportion of all cancer cases that could be prevented through diet, physical activity and weight management.

Overall, the report estimates that approximately one third of the most common cancers in the U.S. could be prevented. That figure does not include smoking, which alone accounts for about a third of cancers.

"The evidence shows that when it comes to cancer prevention, all levels of society have a role to play, said Sir Michael Marmot, chairman of the WCRF/AICR Panel. "This report is relevant to everyone from heads of government down to the people who do the weekly food shopping for their family."

A panel of experts made a total of 48 recommendations for nine different sectors of society. Among the recommendations:

• Governments should require widespread walking and cycling routes to encourage physical activity.

• Governments should encourage healthy food and discourage unhealthy food through legislation and pricing.

• Industry should give a higher priority for goods and services that encourage people to be active, particularly young people.

• The food and drinks industry should make public health an explicit priority at all stages of production.

• Schools should actively encourage physical activity and provide healthy food for children.

• Schools, workplaces and institutions should not have unhealthy foods available in vending machines.

• Health professionals should take a lead in giving the public information about public health, including cancer prevention.

• People should use independent nutrition guides and food labels to make sure the food they buy for their family is healthy.

"The 2007 expert report identified the specific choices that people can make to protect themselves against cancer, but actually making those healthy choices remains difficult for many people," said policy report panel member Shiriki Kumanyika, PhD, MPH, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "The policy report takes the next step - it identifies opportunities for us as a society to make those choices easier."

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