Preventable cancers and how to avoid them

Article

11 October 2022

3 mins read

Wellness

We look at 5 of the most preventable cancers and the steps you can take for the best chance of living cancer-free.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide¹, and a diagnosis can hit like a lightning bolt - unforeseen, random, and regularly chalked up to powers beyond our control.

But according to Cancer Council Australia, 1 in 3 cases of cancer – that's 44,000 cases each year² – can be prevented with lifestyle behaviours.

So, what are some of the most preventable types of cancer?

Skin

We live in one of the world's most sun-drenched countries, and Australians are obsessed with the outdoors. But not everyone seems to be living by the classic 'slip, slop slap' mantra.

In fact, Cancer Australia estimates that 17,756 new cases of melanoma – the most dangerous type of skin cancer – will be diagnosed this year, and over 1,400 people died from the disease in 2020³.

While the five-year survival rate from this type of cancer sits at 90 per cent, the focus shouldn't be on beating it - it should be preventing it completely. The Cancer Council's guidelines on avoiding skin cancer include:

Smart clothing choices – a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sun-protective clothing that covers your skin
Applying a broad spectrum SPF30+ (or higher) sunscreen, and reapplying it every two hours
Limiting your exposure to sunlight by seeking shade⁴

Have you completed your AIA Vitality skin check?

The AIA Vitality skin check self-examination is a short, guided video that awards you 1,000 AIA Vitality Points after completion, which goes towards your AIA Vitality Status.

One in five people are diagnosed with skin cancer – the world’s most common cancer – by age 70⁵. The good news is, being proactive with checking your skin allows you to detect melanoma early, which can be dealt with before it becomes dangerous.

Cervical

Thanks to significant scientific breakthroughs with the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine and cervical screening tests, Australia has one of the lowest cervical cancer mortality rates in the world⁶.

In 2017, the cervical screening test replaced the pap smear test – and this year, women who need to get a cervical screening test will be able to choose to self-collect a sample themselves⁷. Self-collection kits will be available through GP clinics, women’s health clinics, Aboriginal health centres and other healthcare providers through the National Cervical Screening Program.

Cervical cancer screening tests occur every five years for people with a normal test result – some may require more frequent testing or further investigation if HPV is detected.

Oral and lung

In Australia, about 90 per cent of lung cancers in men and 65 per cent in women are caused by smoking⁸. For oral cancers, 59 per cent of cases are caused by smoking, and around 31 per cent are caused by excess alcohol consumption.

Together, these two vices make a terrible pair. Research indicates that alcohol and cigarettes, both known carcinogens⁹, work in tandem¹⁰ to increase the risk of cancer in your upper digestive tract. Your best bet at avoiding these types of cancers is to be more mindful of your alcohol consumption¹¹ and quitting cigarettes.

Bowel

There is now a clear body of evidence indicating bowel cancer is more prevalent among those who eat large amounts of red and processed meats¹². In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) added processed meats (like bacon, ham, salami, sausages) to its Group 1 carcinogen list¹³, proving there is overwhelming evidence these types of meat cause cancerous cells to grow.

Because the delicate digestive system processes food, it has the most exposure to anything carcinogenic that you put in your body. For that reason, diet and alcohol consumption can both have a big effect on your risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer.

Cancer Council recommends limiting your intake of red meat to 500g or less per week, with very little – if any – of this amount being processed¹⁴.

Gastric

About 1,146 people are predicted to be diagnosed with stomach cancer in Australia this year, with men almost twice as likely to be affected as women.

While the exact causes are unknown, strong links are emerging to lifestyle choices such as poor diet and alcohol consumption. One of the main risk factors involved in this type of cancer is obesity¹⁵.

A 2019 study found that a lower amount of excess body fat not only lowered the risk of gastrointestinal cancers but reduced the risk of cancer in general – making obesity the second leading cause of cancer following smoking.

Cancer is one of the five non-communicable diseases that cause over 90 per cent of deaths in Australia. But there’s good news: there are five modifiable behavioural factors that can help lower your risk of acquiring them – find out more in our 5590+ report.

Footnotes

_{1 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01438-6/fulltext

2 https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/1in3cancers/

3 https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/melanoma/statistics

4 https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/preventing-skin-cancer

5 https://www.aia.com.au/en/individual/aia-vitality.html

6 https://www.cancer.org.au/clinical-guidelines/cervical-cancer-screening/cervical-cancer-in-australia

7 https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-ged-kearney-mp/media/pap-smears-can-be-replaced-by-do-it-yourself-cervical-cancer-tests

8 https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/smoking

9 https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/environmental-causes

10 https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet

11 https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/alcohol/about-alcohol/how-much-alcohol-is-safe-to-drink

12 https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-prevention/diet-exercise/nutrition-and-diet/meat-and-cancer/

13 https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2021/red-meat-colorectal-cancer-genetic-signature

14 https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/diet-and-exercise/meat-and-cancer-risk

15 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6744518/}

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