One in four British women at risk of cancer

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDJul 31 2011

A cancer charity revealed figures that show that British women are nearly a fifth more likely to develop cancer at some point during their lives than their European counterparts. Most of it is blamed on lifestyle factors such as obesity and alcohol consumption.

According to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), which campaigns on cancer and lifestyle issues women in the UK had a 25.1% chance of developing any type of cancer by the time they reached 75, as against 21.4% of women elsewhere in Europe. The study is based on figures compiled by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the UN's World Health Organization (WHO). Men did a bit better with a 27.8% chance of being diagnosed by the age of 75 against 29.5% for men elsewhere in Europe.

The WCRF, which estimates that about 80,000 UK cancer cases could be prevented each year through physical activity, better diet, lower alcohol use and reduced obesity, said it believed similar lifestyle factors played a role in these statistics. For women, 33 per cent of cases of cancer of the esophagus are linked to obesity, as are 19 per cent of pancreatic cancer cases, 21 per cent of gallbladder cases, 16 per cent of breast cancers and 28 per cent of cancers of the womb lining.

Another study early this year in the Lancet found that British women had the highest average body mass index among 19 western European nations, of 26.9. This figure compares weight against height and counts as overweight by WHO guidelines. Various studies have also indicated that British women tend to drink more than those in many other European countries, particularly younger women, where the prevalence of diseases associated with alcohol abuse has soared.

According to Dr Rachel Thompson of the WCRF,  “alcohol and obesity formed one of the big public health challenges we face today”. She said, “They are not the only reasons for the differing cancer rates, but there is now very strong evidence that women who drink a lot of alcohol are at increased risk of developing the disease and that excess body fat is also an important risk factor.”

Ciarán Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said the WCRF figures were “very worrying”. He added, “Leading a healthy, active lifestyle and eating a diet of fresh fruit, vegetables and foods that are whole grain and also limiting alcohol intake may reduce the risk of getting cancer and cancer recurrence. However, it's important to remember that cancer can also be caused by many other factors such as age, lifestyle habits and genetic makeup. The number of people who will get cancer is now well past one in three, and there are many more people with cancer today than there were 10 years ago. By making small adjustments to their diet and lifestyles both British men and women can go a long way to helping us tackle this ever growing issue.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said, “Scotland has made good progress in cancer treatment over the last two decades, with cancer being diagnosed and treated earlier and new targets on cancer waiting times being met ahead of schedule. But more needs to be done, which is why we are launching an important new initiative, the Detect Cancer Early Implementation Plan. The Scottish Government recognizes the increased cancer risks associated with obesity and alcohol abuse. That's why our obesity action plan, launched in March, focuses on early prevention, while we're committed to tackling Scotland's damaging relationship with alcohol.”