Table 1.
Causes of cancer and potential reduction in cancer burden through preventive measures. N/A, not applicable.
| Cause* | Percentage of cancer caused |
Number of deaths in United States† |
Magnitude of possible reduction (%) |
Period of time (years) |
Evidence example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking | 33 | 188,744 | 75 | 10–20 | Comparison of lung cancer mortality by state (Fig. 1) |
| Overweight and obesity | 20 | 114,390 | 50 | 2–20 | Bariatric surgery and sustained changes in weight and markers (62) |
| Diet | 5 | 28,600 | 50 | 5–20 | Folate and colorectal cancer (63) |
| Lack of exercise | 5 | 28,600 | 85 | 5–20 | Adolescent physical activity (18) |
| Occupation | 5 | 28,600 | 50 | 20–40 | Asbestos workplace regulation (10) |
| Viruses | 5 | 28,600 | 100 | 20–40 | Liver cancer reduction by vaccine (22) |
| Family history | 5 | 28,600 | 50 | 2–10 | Bilateral oophorectomy for BRCA1/2 (34); aspirin trial for Lynch syndrome (11) |
| Alcohol | 3 | 17,200 | 50 | 5–20 | Regulation (64) |
| UV and ionizing radiation | 2 | 11,400 | 50 | 5–40 | Reduced medical exposures (65) |
| Prescription drugs | 1 | 5,720 | 50 | 2–10 | Hormone therapy–related drop in breast cancer (66) |
| Reproductive factors | 3 | 17,200 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Pollution | 2 | 11,400 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Total potential reduction‡ = 54.5% | |||||