Half of cancer deaths preventable: Study

Study finds 40% of cancer cases could have been prevented
American Cancer Society says cigarette smoking is biggest risk factor
Study measured multiple modifiable risk factors

Updated: Jul 15, 2024 / 12:18 PM EDT

FILE – In this May 25, 2017 file photo, chemotherapy drugs are administered to a patient at a hospital in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

(NewsNation) — As many as 40% of cancer cases and up to half of cancer-related deaths could have been prevented according to a study from the American Cancer Society.

The study measured the impact of modifiable risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption for 30 types of cancers among adults over age 30.

The biggest contributing risk factor was cigarette smoking, which factored into 30% of cancer deaths and nearly 20% of cases.

According to the news release from the American Cancer Society, the study used “nationally representative data” to estimate the proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors.

The study found lung cancer had the largest number of attributable cancer deaths and that cigarette smoking contributed to the largest proportion and number of overall cancer deaths.