Cancer Isn’t Always Fate: WHO Says 4 in 10 Cancers Can Be Stopped Before They Start

Up to four in every 10 new cancer cases worldwide could be prevented if governments and individuals act decisively on known risk factors, according to a major new global analysis released this week by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The findings, published to coincide with World Cancer Day on February 4, 2026, are based on a comprehensive study published in Nature Medicine. The research analysed cancer data from 185 countries and 36 different cancer types, making it one of the most detailed global assessments of preventable cancer ever conducted.

A preventable crisis hiding in plain sight

According to the report, about 37 per cent of the 18.7 million new cancer cases recorded globally in 2022 were linked to modifiable risk factors — causes that can be reduced or eliminated through behavioural change, stronger public policies and effective public health action.

These risk factors include tobacco use, cancer-causing infections, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, air pollution and other environmental exposures.

“The science is clear,” said Maria Neira, WHO’s Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health.
“A large portion of cancers, particularly those related to tobacco, infections and unhealthy environments, are not inevitable. They are preventable.”

Tobacco still the biggest killer

The analysis identified tobacco as the single largest preventable cause of cancer worldwide. Smoking alone accounted for around 15 per cent of all new cancer cases globally, reinforcing long-standing warnings about the dangers of tobacco use.

Beyond smoking, infection-related cancers emerged as another major driver. Infectious agents such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and Helicobacter pylori were found to be responsible for roughly 10 per cent of cancer cases worldwide.

“Smoking- and infection-associated cancers continue to take an enormous toll,” said Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
“Effective prevention is not only possible, it must be prioritised.”

Cervical cancer: a clear case for prevention

The report highlighted cervical cancer as one of the most striking examples of a disease that is almost entirely preventable. The cancer is overwhelmingly caused by HPV, a virus for which safe and highly effective vaccines already exist.

Despite this, cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer deaths among women in many low- and middle-income countries, largely due to gaps in vaccination coverage, screening and early treatment.

The study also pointed to cancers linked to Helicobacter pylori, a common bacterial infection associated with stomach cancer. These cases, experts say, can be significantly reduced through better sanitation, early diagnosis and timely medical treatment.

Policy choices matter

Beyond individual behaviour, the WHO stressed that government action plays a decisive role in cancer prevention. Strong tobacco control laws, alcohol regulation, vaccination programmes, clean air policies, safer workplaces and healthier urban environments were identified as critical tools for reducing cancer risk at scale.

The report argues that countries which invest early in prevention not only save lives but also reduce long-term healthcare costs and economic losses linked to cancer treatment and productivity decline.

A global wake-up call

The findings arrive at a time when cancer cases are rising worldwide, driven by population growth, ageing, urbanisation and lifestyle changes. Yet the WHO insists the data offers hope, not despair.

This landmark analysis shows that cancer is not just a matter of genetics or fate, but often the result of exposures society has the power to change.

As World Cancer Day 2026 underscores, preventing cancer is no longer a distant goal — it is a present-day responsibility. And according to the WHO, millions of lives could be spared if prevention is treated with the urgency it deserves.

SOURCE : NaijaRush Assignment Desk