Older age, smoking and obesity raise cancer risk by as much as 29 percent

Photo credit – American Cancer Society

CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 13, 2022 – Older age and smoking are the strongest risk factors linked to developing any type of cancer, a new study shows.

The large study of nearly 430,000 people participating in two ongoing American Cancer Society studies showed that there were 15,226 invasive cancers among participants within five years of enrolling in the studies. The results were published in the Aug. 3, 2022 journal Cancer.

The analysis led by Dr. Alpa Patel, senior vice president for population science at the American Cancer Society, found that after accounting for a number of variables, the two most significant lifestyle factors linked to a cancer diagnosis was age and smoking accounting for an absolute 2 percent higher risk of cancer, compared to similar participants who were never smokers.

Among long-term smokers with a BMI (body mass index) greater than 25 or a parent or sibling diagnosed with cancer, the absolute risk of being diagnosed with cancer was as high as 29 percent in men and 25 percent in women.

“As we consider the possibility that future tests may be able to identify several types of cancer, we need to begin understanding who is most at risk for developing any type of cancer,” said Patel in a press release. “These types of data are not widely available, but necessary to inform future screening options, such as blood-based multi-cancer early detection tests that could help save lives.”

In men alcohol intake, family history of cancer, red meat consumption, and physical inactivity were also linked to cancer risk. Among women, additional risks of cancer were linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, hysterectomy, child bearing, family history, high blood pressure, tubal ligation, and physical inactivity.

Source: American Cancer Society press release