World Cancer Day: The five habits of Greeks that increase the risk of the disease

World Day against today Tuesday (04.02.2025) and this disease continues to be the most important mortality factor in both Greece and worldwide. The most common forms of cancer are those of breast, lung, colon and rectum and prostate, according to data from the World Health Organization. CORVERSE About 30% of cancer deaths are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake and lack of physical activity, reports Iatropedia. Furthermore, air pollution is an important risk factor for lung cancer. It is indicative that, according to the World Health Organization’s cancer agency, the proportion of people diagnosed with lung cancer who have never smoked increases, with air pollution being a “significant factor”. Lung cancer in people who have never smoked cigarettes or tobacco is now estimated to be the fifth highest cause of cancer death worldwide, according to the International Cancer Research Organisation (IARC), with approximately 200,000 cases of adenocarcinoma associated with exposure to air pollution in 2022, according to a study published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine. CORVERSE At the same time, cancer-induced infections, such as human papilloma virus (HPV) and hepatitis, are responsible for about 30% of cancer cases in low and low-medium-income countries. Many cancers can be cured if they are detected in time and treated effectively. Prevention According to the WHO, 30% to 50% of cancers can now be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing documented prevention strategies. The burden from cancer can also be reduced by early detection of cancer and appropriate treatment and care for cancer-producing patients. Many cancers have high chances of healing if they are diagnosed early and treated properly. In our country, the State, realizing the great need for early diagnosis, implements screening programmes under the Doxiadis Programme and through funds from the Recovery Fund. On the issue of cancer prevention, Deputy Minister of Health Irene Agavedakis was also mentioned at the 9th Annual Conference of the Hellenic Cancer Federation. “Prevention and Public Health are issues that concern us all and go beyond party lines. 2025 will be the year of transformation of Primary Health Care, forming a system that responds to modern needs,” stressed Mrs.Agaedaki, stressing that “no one can make policies focusing on man without man. It is important to be with the citizens, to draw these policies together from region to region within the country, to different populations, even in the same region.” At the same time, the Deputy Minister noted that for the first time Greece has an organised system of prevention and screening, through the National Programme PROLAMBano, while referring to a number of changes progressing by the Ministry of Health, such as the compensation of biomarkers for cancer, which is soon expected to take place. Five daily habits incriminated for cancer in Greeks Cancer continues to be an important factor in mortality in Greece, according to the comments of the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), accompanying the statistical data on disease in our country. Although there are data collection issues, in absolute numbers in 2019 one in 4 deaths in Greece was related to cancer (31,000 of the 125,000 deaths). According to the World Health Organization, daily habits that are risk factors for cancer in Greece are: Smoking: 34.6% of cancer cases are related to tobacco use. Alcohol: 5.5% is related to alcohol consumption. Obesity: 6.9% is related to obesity. UV radiation: 38.4% of melanoma cases are related to UV exposure. Occupational risks: 4.2% are associated with occupational risks. The most common types of cancer in Greece Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate (25.1%) and is the most common, accounting for 14.8% of new cases. Colon cancer follows, with a mortality rate of 10.3% and 10.9% on the new cases. Other common types of cancer include breast cancer (11.5% new cases), bladder (8.6%), and prostate (9.6%). Stomach and pancreas cancer has lower incidence rates but significant mortality. More specifically, in 2019 lung cancer was the main cause of death by any type of cancer in Greece and was responsible for about 59 deaths per 100,000 people. Lung cancer is responsible for 5.7% of all deaths and is still the third cause of death in the country, after heart and cerebrovascular diseases, according to data from the National Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). This situation can be partly explained by the high prevalence of smoking in the Greek population, as according to official figures one in four Greek adults still smokes.