An unhealthy lifestyle causes a quarter of all cancer cases in the Netherlands. Smoking in particular is a major cause of cancer. This is evident from research published on Friday by the Dutch Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) on behalf of KWF Kankerbestrijding. An unhealthy living environment also has a major influence on the number of cancer cases. According to the KWF, prevention measures can prevent up to 40,000 annual cases of cancer.
For the first time since 2014, the most current figures have been used to examine how factors such as lifestyle, particulate matter and infections contribute to the number of cancer cases in the Netherlands. The research shows that smoking in particular causes cancer on a large scale: at least 19,000 cases annually, or 16 percent of all cancer cases in the Netherlands.
Frequent consumption of unhealthy food – such as too little fruit and vegetables or too much processed meat – and obesity are other lifestyle factors that cause relatively high rates of cancer. With regard to environmental factors, excessive exposure to the sun and particulate matter together cause about 8 percent of Dutch cancer cases.
“If we take these results seriously and effectively tackle the risk factors with targeted prevention policies, this could save up to 40,000 cancer diagnoses annually,” says Carla van Gils, director of KWF. “If we all stop smoking, it will save 16 percent of all cancer. That really makes a difference.”
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