Putting cancer on the run
Obesity is an epidemic in countries around the world. The U.S.A comes in at No. 10, with almost 42% of folks having obesity. (American Samoa is No. 1; 70% of their population has obesity.) Add to that the fact that 28 million Americans contend with alcohol abuse and almost 11% smoke marijuana, around 9% smoke cigarettes and 6.5% vape, and you've got a population at risk for a full spectrum of cancers.
The good news is that analysis of data from 185 countries, published in Nature, shows that around 7.1 million of the 18.7 million new cancer diagnoses in 2022 were attributable to avoidable causes! That means at least 40% of cancer cases are preventable!
Lung, stomach and cervical cancers made up almost half of all preventable cancers globally -- and in the U.S., lung, colorectal, skin, and cervical cancers account for the majority of preventable cancers.
Overall, the major causes of preventable cancers are tobacco, infections (like HPV and hepatitis B), and alcohol. And in America, ultra-processed foods, as well as metabolic syndrome (diagnosed if you have three of these conditions: excess abdominal weight, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, elevated blood sugar and high blood pressure), are major additional fuels for cancer.
You know how to slash your risk of cancer: Don't smoke anything, drink sparingly or not at all, maintain a healthy weight, blood pressure and glucose level, use sunscreen, get a hepatitis B vaccine, and ditch highly processed foods. Sound overwhelming? Work with the AI coach (and me) at 4YOUngevity.com for an easy-to-follow lifestyle program.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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