[A large scale cohort study on the effect of life styles on the risk of cancer by each site]

Abstract

265,118 (m; 12226, f; 142857) adults aged 40 and above were followed up for 17 years (1966-1982) and age standardized mortality rates for cancer of each site were analysed by life style variables. The study revealed smoking cessation and increased consumption of green-yellow vegetables as the most effective common way of primary prevention (e.g. cancers of lung, stomach, cervix) followed by moderation in drinking of alcohols (e.g. cancers of mouth, pharynx, esophagus, sigmoid colon) and avoidance of excess consumption of animal fat (e.g. cancer of pancreas, breast). To reduce chances of exposure to passive smoking was also considered important for selected sites (e.g. cancers of lung, nasal sinus, breast, brain tumor and leukemia).