Modifiable factors and prevention

Different modifiable factors may increase or decrease the risk for developing cancer. It is therefore important that primary prevention efforts address the whole breadth of factors, aiming to establish cancer-protective behaviours from a young age.

At an EU level, prevention is one of the key action areas of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan that will address tobacco, harmful alcohol consumption, environmental pollution and hazardous substances. A ‘HealthyLifestyle4All' campaign will promote healthy diets and physical activity. To prevent cancers caused by infections, the Cancer Plan aims to vaccinate at least 90% of the EU target population of girls and to significantly increase vaccination coverage rates of boys by 2030. There are several existing measures addressing tobacco, alcohol and diet-related aspects; some of them will be reviewed as part of the Cancer Plan.

Several countries have implemented effective interventions addressing such factors, including nutrition, physical activity, reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm, reducing the use of tobacco products, improving the environmental determinants of health, or reducing overweight and obesity. A selection of such best practices can be found at the Best Practice Portal that is designed to help to find reliable and practical information on implemented practices recognised as the best in the area of health promotion, disease prevention, and the management of non-communicable diseases, such as cancer.

Additional policies and guidelines

Additional policies – either recommended by national and/or international authorities, or already implemented – can be found at the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Knowledge Gateway for most modifiable cancer risk factors, i.e. tobacco and smoking, alcohol consumption, different diet-related aspects (for example whole grain, or fruit and vegetables) and physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

Furthermore, national health authorities regularly issue guidelines to support the adoption of healthy diets or healthy lifestyles. One such example is the development of Food Based Dietary Guidelines for consumer information, which often also incorporate guidance on alcohol use or physical activity.