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A recent study by the American Cancer Society (ACS) reveals smoking as a pivotal factor in a substantial portion of cancer cases and fatalities in the United States.

According to the ACS, smoking alone accounts for 20% of cancer cases and nearly 30% of cancer-related deaths nationwide.

The research emphasized that a significant number of these cases-up to 40%-among American adults aged 30 and older could potentially be avoided through lifestyle modifications, such as smoking cessation and weight management.

Dr. Farhad Islami, senior scientific director of cancer disparity research at ACS, stressed the need for comprehensive tobacco control policies, advocating for measures like excise taxes to deter smoking. Additionally, the ACS recommends enhanced screening protocols to detect lung cancer early, potentially saving lives.

Islami also highlighted concerning trends in obesity-related cancers, particularly prevalent among younger demographics, underscoring the importance of interventions to promote healthy body weights.

In 2019 alone, the ACS documented 1.78 million new cases of cancer and 595,700 deaths among Americans aged 30 and above. The study focused on 30 different types of cancer, attributing a significant portion of cases and fatalities to behaviors deemed risky, including tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, red meat consumption, physical inactivity, and UV exposure.

Per the findings, an estimated 713,300 cases and 262,100 deaths in 2019 could have been prevented through lifestyle changes and targeted interventions.

New York Post reported that among the preventable causes identified, smoking topped the list, contributing to 56% of cancers in men, 39.9% in women, and 19.3% of all cases overall. Excess body weight followed at 7.6%, trailed by alcohol use (5.4%), UV radiation (4.6%), and physical inactivity (3.1%).

The study underscored the preventability of various cancers, including cervical cancer through HPV vaccination, and highlights that more than 80% of skin melanomas, along with cancers of the anus, lung, colorectal, and bladder, could have been avoided.

Published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the ACS report aims to raise awareness about the critical role of lifestyle choices in cancer prevention, echoing broader public health concerns regarding preventable chronic diseases.

This research aligns with recent warnings from the American Heart Association, indicating a parallel rise in cardiovascular risks linked to factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity among American adults.