Report shows us the way to beat cancer

Many bowel and breast cancer cases in the UK could be prevented through a mixture of healthy eating, more physical activity and better weight maintenance, according to a new report from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

The document, ‘Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention’, estimates that about 43% of bowel cancer cases and 42% of breast cancer cases in the UK could be prevented in this way. It calls on government and individuals to make cancer prevention a higher priority.
Many other cancers, such as those of the kidney and stomach, are also preventable, according to the report.
Since the document’s publication, a panel of scientific experts has made a raft of recommendations covering diet and lifestyles to reduce the incidence of these cancers. In the dietary arena, these include calls on schools to provide healthy food for children and the removal of “unhealthy foods” from vending machines in schools, workplaces and institutions.
The panel also called on the food and drinks industry specifically to “make public health an explicit priority at all stages of production”. It added that people should use independent nutrition guides and food labels to make sure the food they buy for their family is healthy.
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, chair of the WCRF panel, said: “This report shows that by making relatively straightforward changes, we could significantly reduce the number of cancer cases around the world.
“When people think of policy reports, they often think they are only relevant to governments. But while governments are important in this, the evidence shows that when it comes to cancer prevention, all groups in society have a role to play. This report is relevant to everyone from heads of government to the people who do the weekly food shopping for their family.”