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A new global analysis by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that nearly four in every ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented through behavioural changes, stronger public policies, and effective public health interventions.
The findings, released to mark World Cancer Day on February 4, 2026, are based on a study published in Nature Medicine. The research analysed cancer data from 185 countries, covering 36 different cancer types.
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. These include tobacco use, infections, and lifestyle- or environment-related exposures.
“The science is clear,” said Maria Neira, Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the WHO. “A large portion of cancers, particularly those related to tobacco, infections and unhealthy environments, are not inevitable. They are preventable.”
Tobacco use was identified as the single largest preventable cause of cancer, responsible for roughly 15 per cent of new cases worldwide. Infectious agents such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and Helicobacter pylori were also major contributors, together accounting for about 10 per cent of cancer cases globally.
“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.”
The report highlighted cervical cancer as one of the most preventable forms of the disease, noting that it is overwhelmingly caused by HPV — a virus for which safe and effective vaccines are widely available. Cancers linked to Helicobacter pylori infection were also prominent, with prevention possible through improved sanitation, early detection, and routine medical screening.
“We are at a moment where public health interventions, such as HPV vaccination, tobacco control measures and healthier environmental policies, could save millions of lives,” Weiderpass added.
The analysis also revealed significant differences in preventable cancer burdens across regions and between sexes. In men, approximately 45 per cent of cancers were attributed to modifiable risk factors, compared with around 30 per cent in women.
Regional variations were observed across East Asia, Latin America, North Africa and West Asia, reflecting differences in lifestyle, environmental exposure and access to preventive healthcare.
“These differences reflect variation in lifestyles, environmental exposures and access to preventive care,” Neira said. “That is why tailored, locally relevant strategies are essential.”
The WHO is urging governments and health systems to scale up proven prevention measures, including higher tobacco taxes, public smoking bans, expanded vaccination programmes and improvements in air quality.
“We must shift the focus upstream,” Neira emphasised. “Investing in prevention not only saves lives but also reduces long-term healthcare costs and strengthens resilient health systems.”
The report concludes that while cancer remains a major global health challenge, nearly four in ten cases could be avoided through coordinated public health action, strong political commitment and sustained community engagement.
