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Rise in cancers 'caused by weight' | Rise in cancers 'caused by weight' |
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Being overweight or obese is a growing cause of cancer in the UK while cases caused by smoking are falling, according to a large study. | Being overweight or obese is a growing cause of cancer in the UK while cases caused by smoking are falling, according to a large study. |
Cancer Research UK found more than a third of all cases of cancer were avoidable - some 135,000. | Cancer Research UK found more than a third of all cases of cancer were avoidable - some 135,000. |
The charity also found that excess weight now caused 6.3% of all cancer cases - up from 5.5% in 2011 - while smoking as a cause had declined. | The charity also found that excess weight now caused 6.3% of all cancer cases - up from 5.5% in 2011 - while smoking as a cause had declined. |
It said more action was needed to tackle the "health threat" of obesity. | It said more action was needed to tackle the "health threat" of obesity. |
Cancer Research UK found the country with the greatest proportion of preventable causes of cancer was Scotland with 41.5%, followed by Northern Ireland on 38%, Wales on 37.8%, and England on 37.3%. | Cancer Research UK found the country with the greatest proportion of preventable causes of cancer was Scotland with 41.5%, followed by Northern Ireland on 38%, Wales on 37.8%, and England on 37.3%. |
Across the UK, smoking remained by far the leading cause of preventable cancer, although it dropped from 19.4% in 2011 to 15.1%. | Across the UK, smoking remained by far the leading cause of preventable cancer, although it dropped from 19.4% in 2011 to 15.1%. |
Second was being overweight or obese, and third was exposure to UV radiation from the sun and sunbeds. | |
The standard way of diagnosing if someone is obese is by calculating their body mass index (BMI). It measures whether you're a healthy weight for your height. | |
A BMI of more than 25 means you're overweight and a BMI of more than 30 means you're classified as obese, although there are some exceptions. | |
'I felt responsible' | 'I felt responsible' |
Janet Boak, from Carlisle, was diagnosed with womb cancer at 51, after she noticed spots of blood four years after her menopause. | Janet Boak, from Carlisle, was diagnosed with womb cancer at 51, after she noticed spots of blood four years after her menopause. |
She had a full hysterectomy, which successfully removed the cancer. | She had a full hysterectomy, which successfully removed the cancer. |
It was during a subsequent check-up that she was told being obese had contributed to her risk of getting cancer. At the time, she was nearly 20 stone. | It was during a subsequent check-up that she was told being obese had contributed to her risk of getting cancer. At the time, she was nearly 20 stone. |
"I felt like I was responsible for my own downfall," Janet, 55, said. | "I felt like I was responsible for my own downfall," Janet, 55, said. |
"It stuck in my gut a bit, thinking I could maybe not have been in this position had I sorted my lifestyle out." | "It stuck in my gut a bit, thinking I could maybe not have been in this position had I sorted my lifestyle out." |
Janet, a grandmother, has since lost nearly seven stone after she cut down on sugar, started cooking healthier meals from fresh ingredients and became more active. | Janet, a grandmother, has since lost nearly seven stone after she cut down on sugar, started cooking healthier meals from fresh ingredients and became more active. |
Cancer Research UK found overexposure to UV radiation caused about 13,600 cases of melanoma skin cancer a year - or 3.8% of all cancer cases. | Cancer Research UK found overexposure to UV radiation caused about 13,600 cases of melanoma skin cancer a year - or 3.8% of all cancer cases. |
Other preventable causes of cancer included drinking alcohol and eating too little fibre, it said. | Other preventable causes of cancer included drinking alcohol and eating too little fibre, it said. |
However, overall the analysis found the proportion of preventable cases of cancer had fallen - from 42.7% in 2011 to 37.7%. | However, overall the analysis found the proportion of preventable cases of cancer had fallen - from 42.7% in 2011 to 37.7%. |
The preventable causes of cancer | The preventable causes of cancer |
Source: Cancer Research UK | Source: Cancer Research UK |
Cancer Research UK said the figures showed smoking prevention strategies were working, but more work was needed to tackle the growing problem of obesity. | Cancer Research UK said the figures showed smoking prevention strategies were working, but more work was needed to tackle the growing problem of obesity. |
Prof Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK's prevention expert, said: "Obesity is a huge health threat right now, and it will only get worse if nothing is done. | Prof Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK's prevention expert, said: "Obesity is a huge health threat right now, and it will only get worse if nothing is done. |
"The UK government must build on the successes of smoking prevention to reduce the number of weight-related cancers. | "The UK government must build on the successes of smoking prevention to reduce the number of weight-related cancers. |
"Banning junk food TV adverts before the 21:00 GMT watershed is an important part of the comprehensive approach needed." | "Banning junk food TV adverts before the 21:00 GMT watershed is an important part of the comprehensive approach needed." |
Prof Mel Greaves, a cancer biologist at the Institute of Cancer Research, in London, said the study was an "endorsement" of the idea that many cancers were potentially preventable. | Prof Mel Greaves, a cancer biologist at the Institute of Cancer Research, in London, said the study was an "endorsement" of the idea that many cancers were potentially preventable. |
But he said the idea that obesity itself or eating too little fibre "causes" cancer was "somewhat simplistic" and still needed to be explored further. | But he said the idea that obesity itself or eating too little fibre "causes" cancer was "somewhat simplistic" and still needed to be explored further. |
"If obesity could be avoided, the impact on cancer rates is uncertain - but they would almost certainly decline significantly," Prof Greaves said. | "If obesity could be avoided, the impact on cancer rates is uncertain - but they would almost certainly decline significantly," Prof Greaves said. |
"Given the currently high rates of obesity in young people, this represents (like cigarette smoking) a major societal challenge beyond the bounds of the medical arena." | "Given the currently high rates of obesity in young people, this represents (like cigarette smoking) a major societal challenge beyond the bounds of the medical arena." |