Half of U.S. cancer deaths linked to modifiable risk factors, American Cancer Society study finds

About half of U.S. cancer deaths in 2019 were linked to modifiable risk factors, according to a new study (Source: “Half of cancer deaths in US linked to ‘modifiable’ risk factors: Study,” The Hill, July 11).
 
According to the American Cancer Society study, four in 10 cancer cases and about half of cancer deaths among U.S. adults 30 years old and older were linked to factors such as smoking, drinking, poor diet and not getting vaccinated.
 
Researchers at the American Cancer Society used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program to determine the nation’s cancer rate and deaths in 2019.  
 
Cigarette smoking was the most common behavioral risk factor, contributing to 20% of all cancer cases and 30% of all cancer deaths, according to the study.