CANCERS caused by boozing, smoking and sunburn are on the rise in Britain, experts warn.
The World Cancer Research Fund found the number of tumours caused by bad habits rose five per cent between 2017 and 2020.
Drinking too much alcohol increases your risk of getting cancer
At least 8,000 more people suffered preventable cancers in 2020 compared to three years earlier.
The WCRF said 155,000 out of a total 388,000 cancer cases each year could be dodged with better health.
The top six risk factors that people can change are:
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Being overweight or obese
- Bad diet and nutrition
- Lack of exercise
- Sun exposure and sunburn
Dr Vanessa Gordon-Dseagu, research manager at WCRF, said: “Around 40 per cent of cancers are associated with modifiable risk factors including smoking and sun exposure.
“Individuals can reduce their cancer risk.
“It is also important to remember that our population is ageing, so we are likely to see cancer continue to increase over the next few decades.
“Screening plays a vital role in improving cancer outcomes – the earlier someone is diagnosed, the more likely they are to survive.”
Around 1,000 people get the dreaded diagnosis every day in the UK – and 400 of them could have dodged it by living a healthier life.
The latest figures showed 387,820 people found out they had cancer in 2020.
However, people leading unhealthy lifestyles mean this figure is higher than it should be.
To slash their risk people should quit smoking and heavy boozing, prevent sunburn, shift their flab and swap junk food and ready meals for fresh fruit, veg, nuts and grains.
It comes after Cancer Research UK said that ending smoking would slash the number of cancer deaths in poorer areas.
A study published last week in the journal PLOS One found that if nobody in England smoked then cancer deaths linked to deprivation would reduce from 27,200 to 16,500.
