How many cancers

can be prevented?

All cancers

er
nc

Key

Number
of cancers
of this type
caused by
each risk*

Risk
factor

Eating any red or

Bow

All cancer s of this type

el

Hepatitis B or C

ca

Getting more UV
than was typical for
people born in 1903

nc

Overweight
Low
fibre
diet

er

* Note that one

persons cancer can have
more than one
cause

c le
P ro state preventab
f

N o evide nce yet o

Alcohol
Being exposed to cancer-causing
chemicals or conditions at work

Tobacco

Alcohol
Getting fewer than five
portions a day

Radiation
Infections

Drinking any type

of alcohol

Penile cancer
Kaposi sarcoma
Vaginal cancer

Occupation

Nasopharynx cancer
Sino-nasal cancer
Soft tissue sarcoma
Eye cancer

Low
fruit &
veg diet

Having a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or over

Overweight

Smoking or chewing any form of tobacco, or

exposure to environmental tobacco smoke

Tobacco

Non

Cancers of

Infections

ca

d
- ho

n
g ki

tm
an
n
g
li
Ma

Tobacco

u
er
mo
dd
u
a
l
t
B
r
NS
ce
&C
n
ca n
i
a
y
e
Br
n
Kid
ncer
geal ca
Oesopha

Occupation

Low OverRadiation
fruit &weightAlcohol
veg diet

Tobacco

Tobacco

Pancreatic cancer

un

r
ce
an
nc
ria
er s
va
anc
al c
Or yeloma
M
cancer
Liver
l cancer
Cer vica
Mesothelioma
Lar yngeal cancer
connective tissue
e & Thyroid cancer
Bon
lar canc
Testicumphomear
Ly
gkin
ancer
Hod Vulval acncer
rc
dde
llbla cer s
Ga
n
re ca
r ra y
he
ar
Ot n prim
ow
kn

Inactivity

an c

er

rs

Red meat

Infection
Occupation

ym

Exposure to cancer-causing

The thin lines show the total number of cancers of

each type from the latest UK incidence figures, and
Radiation
the large bars in the centre of each line show the
Occupation
proportion of these cases that could be prevented in
Tobmen and women. Around the outside, youll see the
acco
lifestyle and environmental factors that are
linked to each cancer type. On the left is
the contribution of each lifestyle
Occupation
factor to cancer overall.
Overweight

Sunlight
& sunbeds

Preventable
cancers

Infections infections like HPV and

Occupation

Scale
200 cancers
Male
cancers

Female
cancers

Red meat processed meat

Sunlight
& sunbeds

Risk
factor

er

Radiation

This diagram shows the results of new research funded by Cancer Research UK, which aims to
show the number of cancer cases in the UK that could be prevented by known lifestyle and
environmental factors, like being a non-smoker, keeping a healthy weight, drinking less alcohol,
eating a healthy, balanced diet, and avoiding being exposed to certain infections or radiation.

nc

Being exposed to any ionising

radiation, including background
levels such as those released
from the earth

Breast
can

Although there are some things we cant control about our cancer risk, decades of research
have clearly shown that by living a healthy life, people can reduce the risk of developing the
disease. But how many cancers in the UK are really caused by things we can change?

ca

Low
fruit &
veg diet

Overweight

se
s

Radiation

Having less than 23 grams

of fibre a day

HRT Occupation
Alcohol

r
ce

Low
fibre
diet

Occupation

Not
breast
feeding

ma

InBeing moderately active for less

activity than 150 minutes a week

Radiation

no

Breastfeeding each child for

less than 6 months

Tobacco

e la

Having at least 6 grams a day

Not
breastfeeding

om a

Salt

Inactivity

ph

Taking any type of Hormone

Replacement Therapy

Lung
ca

HRT

Womb c
an

Overweight
Infections
Infections
Radiation
Tobacco
Low fruit & veg diet
Alcohol
Infections
Occupation

Sto

cer
Leu
kae
ma
mia
ch
ca
nc
er

Overweight

Over- Inactivity
weight
HRT

Radiation
Occupation
Tobacco
Low
fruit &
veg diet

Infections
Not breastfeeding Salt

Occu- Infecpation tions

cco
Tobcacupation
O

Occupation
Tob- HRT
Tobacco
Occup. acco
Tobacco Low fruit & veg diet
Infections
Alcohol
Infections
Alcohol
Occupation
Radiation

Tobacco Occupation
Radiation