8 tips to help reduce your cancer risk at any age

"It's never been more important to actively take steps to reduce your cancer risk," says Heather Mackey, senior director of cancer prevention and early detection for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. "It is thought that up to 40% of cancers are linked to lifestyle factors that we can control."

Cancer before your fifties 

Developing cancer before you are 50 years of age is called early-onset cancer. While this currently only accounts for around 1 in 10 of all cancer cases, the rate at which early-onset cancer is increasing is raising the alarm among health professionals¹.  

Scientists still have a lot to learn about how and why cancer develops in some people and not others. However, it's becoming increasingly apparent that - for certain cancers at least - your lifestyle makes a big difference.  

Cancer is the number one cause of death in high-income countries like the UK and US, and responsible for twice as many deaths as cardiovascular disease (CVD) - which we know to be closely linked to how we live,^2,3. 

Cancer prevention and your lifestyle choices 

Lifestyle choices do not exist in a bubble - they play an important role in health and disease in your body. By making healthy changes to these aspects of your life, you may be able to reduce your chances of developing cancer. 

1. Avoiding obesity 

Obesity is also on the rise in young adults, and this could also partly explain the increase in early-onset cancer cases. Between 2009 and 2020, the percentage of adults with obesity aged 20-44 years rose from around 33% to 41% in the US⁴.

Obesity is linked to at least 13 different types of cancer - throat (oesophageal), breast, ovarian, gallbladder, stomach, kidneys, liver, endometrial, pancreatic, thyroid, multiple myeloma, meningioma, and colorectal.

Obesity causes long-lasting inflammation and abnormal levels of substances like insulin and sex hormones. These problems can cause cancer to grow and spread. 

2. Supporting your gut 

Your gut is home to millions of tiny microorganisms. The good bacteria benefit you while bad gut bacteria can cause damage and disease. Their balance - partly influenced by what you eat - is now thought to be connected to your cancer risk. 

According to Mackey, this is an exciting area of research. There's a connection between your diet, the existence of a toxin called LPS that's produced by the bacteria in your gut, and a resultant immune system response that could lead to cancerous cells.  

"As LPS causes inflammation, it can lead to increased cell growth and division, says Mackey. "Some research in cells show that, as well as creating tumours, it also promotes the spread of cancer - called metastasis." 

"The full implications of the link between gut bacteria and cancer - and how it may be measured or treated - are not yet known," adds Mackey. 

3. Following an anti-inflammatory diet 

Inflammation is a normal short-term response by the body to injury or infection. But long-term (chronic) inflammation, which can be caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits including your diet, can cause cell damage.

Following an anti-inflammatory diet is an overall healthy lifestyle diet that involves eating foods that fight long-lasting inflammation, while avoiding the ones that trigger it. 

"It's best to avoid alcohol completely to reduce your risk of cancer. The more that you drink, the greater your cancer risk - even small amounts can lead to cancer."

4. Moving often and being active

Physical exercise is another important factor for preventing obesity, and therefore lowering your risk of cancer⁵: 

• Exercising a lot - holds the strongest evidence for reducing your risk of cancers of the bladder, breast, uterus, colon, throat, and stomach.  

• Spending a lot of time being still - known as sedentary behaviour, this contributes to colon, uterus, and lung cancers. 

Physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, and obesity can increase your risk of cancer partly due to their effect on inflammation, metabolic hormones, insulin sensitivity, and sex steroids in your body.  

5. Managing your stress

It's normal to feel stressed every now and then, but it is not yet fully understood how prolonged stress can affect cancer risk in people. Currently, animal models have shown that there could be an increased risk but these have not been seen in human research studies. 

The relationship may be an indirect one. For example, people experiencing ongoing stress are more likely to develop unhealthy habits, such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and overeating. These are themselves risk factors for some cancers⁶.

6. Fighting infections

Infections, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi, are all linked to cancer. According to Mackey, vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to avoid preventable cancers caused by the following: 

Hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV)

Mackey says: "Hepatitis B and C are the leading causes of liver cancer. There are vaccinations against hep B, and testing and treatment are available for both hep B and C. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all children and adults up to age 59, as well as adults age 60 and over who are at high risk for hepatitis B infection."

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 

Mackey says: "HPV been linked to cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. These cancers are largely preventable with the HPV vaccination. All children should get the HPV vaccine between ages 9-12 and older teens and young adults aged 13-26 who have not been vaccinated can get a catch-up vaccination series."

Other ways to avoid infection

There are many infections that can't be prevented through vaccines. So how can you reduce your number of lifetime infections? It's not always possible to avoid them. In fact, many are a normal part of life for humans. But you can bolster your body's ability to overpower them. 

7. Protecting against sun exposure 

Skin cancer cases have been steadily growing in the UK, and cases of life-threatening melanoma skin cancer are at an all-time high, with 17,500 cases reported in 2023⁷. 

Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun can cause skin cancer, so the best way to stay safe when in the sun is to apply a high sun protection factor (SPF) cream - at least SPF 30, or SPF 50 if you're pale and freckled.

8. Quitting tobacco smoke

Cigarette smoke includes over 50 known substances that can cause cancer. The main threat is lung cancer, which kills around 30,000 people in the UK every year. 

However, smoking is also linked to many other cancers, including cancer of the mouth, throat, nose, larynx, gullet, pancreas, bladder, cervical, kidney, and leukaemia.  

Smoking is addictive and not easy to quit - but it is possible. There’s helpful advice and support channels to help, as well as medicines your doctor may recommend to increase your chance of giving up.  

"It's never too late to quit," says Mackey. "If you need help, talk to your pharmacist or doctor."

Further reading 

1. Cancer Research UK: Early-onset cancer: why are more young adults being diagnosed?   

2. Dagenais et al: Variations in common diseases, hospital admissions, and deaths in middle-aged adults in 21 countries from five continents (PURE): a prospective cohort study.  

3. Teo et al: The 2 Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study: examining the impact of societal influences on chronic noncommunicable diseases in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.   

4. Aggarwal et al: Cardiovascular risk factor prevalence, treatment, and control in US adults Aaed 20 to 44 Years.  

5. Friedenreich et al: Physical activity, obesity and sedentary behavior in cancer etiology: epidemiologic evidence and biologic mechanisms.  

6. National Cancer Institute: Stress and cancer.

7. Skin Care Network: Skin cancer in 2023.