In a landmark policy report released by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, researchers suggest that one-third of the most common cancers in high-income countries and about a quarter in lower-income countries are preventable. The report, which is believed to be the most comprehensive on cancer prevention to be published, finds that cancer cases can often be prevented through diet, physical activity and weight control. A panel of experts recommends many actions that governments and industry should take to prevent cancer in their countries.

"This report shows that by making relatively straightforward changes, we could significantly reduce the number of cancer cases around the world," according to a statement by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Chair of the World Cancer Research Fund Panel, in a WCRF news release. The WCRF is an organization that raises awareness about the preventability of cancer and aims to help people make choices to reduce their chances of developing cancer.

"On a global level every year, there are millions of cancer cases that could have been prevented and this is why we need to act now before the situation gets even worse," added Professor Martin Wiseman, Project Director of the report.

To produce the report, called "Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective" and the WCRF's companion report called "Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention," two independent teams of scientists systematically examined how policy changes and interventions influence the behaviors that affect cancer risk. Subsequently, a panel of 23 experts made 48 recommendations spread across different groups in society including governments, industry, schools, etc.

Among the key findings were that 45 percent of U.S. bowel cancer cases and 38 percent of U.S. breast cancer cases are preventable by diet, physical activity, or weight control. In the U.K, the report estimates that over 40 percent of bowel and breast cancer cases are preventable through such means. It also estimates that the preventability of cancers in China and Brazil.

The following table summarizes the report's estimated percentages of preventable cancer cases in four countries.

Among the 48 recommendations were the following:

• 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.
• Governments should require widespread walking and cycling routes to encourage physical activity.
• Governments should incorporate United Nations recommendations on breastfeeding into law.
• The food and drinks industry should make public health an explicit priority at all stages of production.
• Industry should give a higher priority for goods and services that encourage people to be active, particularly young people.
• 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.

"When people think of policy reports, they often think they are only relevant to governments. But while governments are important in this, the evidence shows that when it comes to cancer prevention, all groups in society have a role to play," said Professor Marmot, in the WCRF news release. "This report is relevant to everyone from heads of government to the people who do the weekly food shopping for their family."

Professor Wiseman added, "We are expecting a substantial increase in cancer rates with the aging population, obesity rates soaring, and with people becoming less active and increasingly consuming highly processed and energy dense foods and drinks. The good news is that this is not inevitable and we still have the chance to avert a crisis before it is too late."

Additional Resources and References

• Information on the World Cancer Research Fund /American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) report is available at http://www.wcrf-uk.org/
• This article references the World Cancer Research Fund news release, "Landmark report: many cancers could be prevented across the globe," which was published on the WCRF web site listed above.