24 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | OCTOBER 2024
Behaviors linked to a higher risk for cancer
Cancer researchers continue to make great strides that benefit millions of people every year . The work cancer researchers do has led to improved outcomes , more effective treatments and a greater understanding of the disease .
Despite the tireless efforts of cancer researchers across the globe , much about the disease remains a mystery . However , researchers have been able to identify various behaviors that can increase a person ’ s risk for developing cancer .
— Tobacco use : The World Health Organization reports that tobacco kills up to half its users across the globe . Many of those users die from cancer . A recent study published in the journal Cancer Medicine in 2022 found that , in 2019 , an estimated 2.5 million cancer deaths were attributable to smoking across the globe . Various public health agencies , including the WHO , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society , urge individuals to avoid tobacco use entirely , which can lower the risk for various diseases , including cancer . But the American Society of Clinical Oncology also notes that individuals who already use tobacco and have been
24 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | OCTOBER 2024