Nearly 40 per cent of cancer deaths could be prevented with eight simple lifestyle changes, new research has concluded.
Quitting smoking, eating healthier and boozing less would help stop the disease, which claims 8.2 million lives worldwide each year.
Scientists suggest those three habits can be blamed for 30.4 per cent of all cancer deaths, around 2.5 million – with tobacco proving the biggest burden.
Five other habits, including excessive UV radiation, obesity and not exercising enough can be blamed for a further 14.4 per cent of deaths – 1.2 million lives.
Researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, said the total amount is greater than 38 per cent because many deaths involved two factors.
Even ‘small improvements’ would help reduce the risk of dying prematurely from cancer, the Australian researchers claimed.
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