Lifestyle changes could prevent 37,000 cases of cancer in Australia: study

Just six lifestyle changes could prevent 37,000 cases of cancer in Australia, with one in three cancers preventable, according to a new study of cancer incidence and prevention.

The research funded by the Cancer Council Australia, carried out by the QIRM Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland and released on Wednesday, identified 13 risk factors within 24 types of cancer.

"Of 13 identified risk factors, smoking, UV radiation, body weight, poor diet and alcohol caused around 90 percent of all preventable cancers," the Cancer Council's chief executive Professor Sanchia Aranda said.

A poor diet includes too much red or processed meat as well as limited fruits, vegetables and fiber.

"We've always understood these were associated with cancer, but we've never been able to quantify them other than with tobacco," Aranda said.

The study showed tobacco is also linked to other cancers, including 951 cases of bowel cancer in 2010 and 781 cases of bladder cancer.

"People also may be surprised at the relationship between being overweight and cancer," she said.

"We are an increasingly overweight population, yet there are nearly almost 4,000 cancers a year that could be avoided if we could get thinner."

The study - published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health - will hopefully help guide lifestyle changes, Australia's health policy and contribute to international evidence on cancer prevention, lead researcher Professor David Whileman from QIMR Berghofer said. Endi