A new global analysis by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that nearly four in every ten new cancer cases worldwide could be prevented through healthier lifestyles, stronger public policies and effective public health interventions.
The findings were released this week to mark World Cancer Day on February 4, 2026. They are based on a major study published in Nature Medicine, which examined data from 185 countries across 36 different types of cancer.
According to the report, about 37 percent of the 18.7 million new cancer cases recorded globally in 2022 were linked to risk factors that can be modified. These include tobacco use, infections and lifestyle or environmental 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 biggest preventable cause of cancer, accounting for roughly 15 percent of new cases worldwide. Infectious agents such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and Helicobacter pylori were also highlighted, together contributing about 10 percent of global cancer cases.
“Smoking and infection-associated cancers continue to take an enormous toll,” said Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. “Effective prevention is not only possible, it must be prioritised.”
The analysis pointed to cervical cancer as one of the most preventable forms of the disease, noting that it is largely caused by HPV, for which safe and effective vaccines are widely available.
Cancers linked to Helicobacter pylori infection were also prominent in the report. These can be prevented or managed through improved sanitation, early diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment.
“We are at a moment where public health interventions, such as HPV vaccination, tobacco control policies and healthier environmental regulations, could save millions of lives,” Weiderpass said.
The report also revealed differences in preventable cancer rates across regions and between genders. Among men, around 45 percent of cancer cases were linked to modifiable risk factors, compared with about 30 percent in women.
Regional patterns varied, with East Asia, Latin America, North Africa and West Asia each showing different preventable cancer burdens influenced by lifestyle habits, 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 urged governments to expand proven prevention measures, including higher tobacco taxes, public smoking restrictions, vaccination programmes and policies aimed at improving air quality.
“We must shift the focus upstream,” Neira added. “Investing in prevention not only saves lives, but also reduces long-term healthcare costs and strengthens health systems.”
The report concluded that although cancer remains a major global health challenge, coordinated public health action, strong political commitment and sustained community engagement could prevent nearly four in ten cases worldwide.
