Preventable cancers

Estimated proportion of potentially preventable cancers

The most common cancers in Europe: the estimated incidence in 2012 and the proportions that are potentially preventable from changes in currently established risk factors and protective factors
Major established modifiable risk/protective factors
  • 75-100% preventable
  • 25-74% preventable
  • <25% preventable

The main pillars for primary cancer prevention are usually summarized as interventions to implement tobacco control and reduce the prevalence of obesity, alcohol consumption, and excess sun exposure, together with the promotion of physical exercise and a healthy diet. Other key areas for intervention are control of environmental and workplace carcinogens and immunization against human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus infections. For all these factors, there is often a lack of clarity on or commitment to the implementation of optimal strategies to bring about the required changes through behavioural change or policy and regulatory measures. The figures show the most common cancers in Europe (the estimated incidence in 2012 and the proportions that are potentially preventable from changes in currently established risk factors and protective factors).

Sources

Thank you to Morena Sarzo of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO) for designing and producing the figures.

  • Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Ervik M, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, et al. (2013). GLOBOCAN 2012 v1.0, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 11 [Internet]. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: http://globocan.iarc.fr (accessed 4 January 2018).
  • Cancer Research UK. Cancer Statistics for the UK, Risk factor attributable fractions derived from http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancerstatistics/risk (accessed 4 January 2018).