New Study Shows Lifestyle Change Can Prevent Death from Cancer

During my early education, it was widely accepted that at least 90 percent of all cancer cases were genetic. But the headline of this article based on a recent report from the American Cancer Society says it all:

“Half of cancer deaths could have been prevented through lifestyle changes”

More specifically, up to 40 percent of cancer cases and up to half of cancer-related deaths could have been prevented through smarter, more informed health and life choices, according to a study that “measured the impact of modifiable risk factors for 30 types of cancers among adults over age 30.”

As the study’s lead author said, “A large number of cancer cases and deaths in the United States are attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors, indicating the potential to substantially reduce the cancer burden through prevention.”

This isn’t news to those of us who embrace functional medicine and have researched chronic illness and its causes for decades. Of course, hearing a diagnosis of osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure is nothing like hearing the C word. 

My mother has been battling lung cancer for two years. My father died from prostate cancer. I sit down knee to knee with cancer patients every day. I know the shock of a cancer diagnosis. I understand the stress of treatment and mounting medical bills.

Given the impact on human life and the high costs involved with cancer, wouldn’t it make sense if we as a society finally started to prioritize disease prevention by making better lifestyle choices instead of waiting until something bad happens?

Ernest Hawk, MD from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was not involved in the study but was quoted in the article, saying, “It is great to see these messages re-confirmed and reinforced by the latest data and analyses, but I’m not seeing a lot that is new and novel.”

The problem is that much of the science has been buried by the marketing and lobbying of a food industry that poisons our food supply with toxic ingredients, but labels those products as “healthy” and “natural.” The fact is, we can’t outsource nutrition to grocery stores and restaurants. 

Similarly, we can’t outsource our fitness to personal trainers and YouTube celebrities. Just this week, I’ve seen multiple patients who have beaten down their bodies by overtraining and doing the wrong kinds of exercises.

The science is clear. The notion that everything is genetic and we have no control of our health has been proven false. Life-threatening diseases like cancer can be prevented. And the best way to prevent serious illness is to make better lifestyle choices. 

Every human has the ability to take inventory of everything that contributes to their health, ideally, with the guidance and support of clinicians who understand how to connect the dots between lifestyle choices and the data revealed through examination and testing.

What am I doing to increase my risk of cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis? What can I do to reduce that risk? Speaking of genes (and nutrigenomics), what can I do based on my individual genetic profile to improve and maintain my own health? 

Let’s stop throwing up our hands and saying, “Whatever happens, happens. I’ll just do whatever I want because I can’t control it. We all die of something.”

Instead, let’s gain a deeper understanding of how our daily choices affect our lives and take steps to feel better, function better, and live longer!