Cancer Research UK have highlighted the significant role of lifestyle choices in up to 40% of cancers. More than 100,000 cancers – equivalent to one third of all those diagnosed in the UK each year – are being caused by smoking, unhealthy diets, alcohol and excess weight, the Charity says.
Tobacco as ever features as a major cause of mortality, but alcohol consumption is also defined as a major risk factor for some cancers and a smaller risk factor for many others. The research links alcohol to oesophageal, oral, laryngeal, liver, breast and bowel cancer risk in particular.
Of the 158,700 cases of cancer diagnosed in males each year and the 155,600 in women, alcohol ranks as the 4th highest risk factor for males and the 6th highest for women.
President of the Royal College of Physicians Sir Richard Thompson said the report is a "wake up call" to the government to take stronger action on public health. The report comes shortly after Andrew Langford, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust spoke out on Government policy with liver cancer deaths rising 74% since 1997.
The Department of Health's Public Health pages list key elements to its approach to addressing lifestyle issues, including the white paper and the controversial Responsibility Deal. A Change4Life social marketing strategy was recently released, committing to delivering alcohol messages within a wider lifestyles agenda.
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