Extracts below and a comment from me. Read online: https://www.who.int/es/news/item/03-02-2026-four-in-ten-cancer-cases-cou...
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Four out of ten cancer cases could be prevented worldwide
February 3, 2026 Joint Press Release
According to a new global analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), up to four out of ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented. The study examines 30 preventable causes, including tobacco and alcohol use, high body mass index, physical inactivity, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and, for the first time, nine cancer-causing infections...
Based on data from 185 countries and 36 types of cancer, the study concludes that tobacco is the leading preventable cause of cancer worldwide, causing 15% of all new cancer cases, followed by infections (10%) and alcohol consumption (3%)...
"This is the first global analysis to show the extent to which cancer risk is due to preventable causes,” said Dr. Ilbawi, WHO Cancer Control Team Leader and author of the study. “By examining patterns across countries and population groups, we can provide governments and individuals with more concrete information to help prevent many cases of cancer before they even develop.”...
A coordinated effort across sectors, from health and education to energy, transportation, and employment, can prevent millions of families from bearing the burden of a cancer diagnosis. Addressing preventable risk factors not only reduces cancer incidence but also lowers long-term healthcare costs and improves the health and well-being of the population.
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COMMENT (NPW): WHO Cancer Control Team Leader says 'we can provide governments and individuals with more concrete information' but the reality is that this information will not be seen by the vast majority of people, who will continue to be unaware of the health risks they face and unaware about how to prevent cancer. There is no magic fix for this - what is needed is to strengthen the global evidence ecosystem. https://www.hifa.org/about-hifa
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org