We’re not doctors or analysts (well… maybe some of us are!), but one thing’s hard to ignore, cancer is becoming alarmingly frequent. Wherever we look, someone in our circle seems to be fighting it. And while medical science has made huge strides, early detection can now save lives, we’re still far from having a complete cure.
Among all types, lung cancer is one of the most feared, and smoking is undeniably a leading cause. But here’s something that might surprise you: lung cancer accounts for only about 6% of total cancer cases. So, what about the other 94%?
It’s easy to say “quit smoking” (and yes, it does take a lot of willpower, especially when it’s glamorised as ‘cool’). But the truth is, smoking isn’t just a cancer risk, it’s a full-blown health wrecking machine. From cancer to heart disease, smoking silently erodes your body. In fact, data shows that most smokers in India don’t die of cancer, they die from heart attacks, often at a young age. Among young adult smokers, 60–70% succumb to heart-related issues, not cancer.
So if you need a sign to quit, this is it. No more excuses. Quit smoking not just for your lungs, but for your life.
But then… what about the other 73%? Yes, lung cancer makes up just 6% of cancer cases, and smoking-related cancers (all types) account for about 21%. That still leaves a whopping 73% of cancer cases unexplained by smoking. So, what’s going on?
Even more shocking? Many non-smokers are being diagnosed with lung cancer today. Wait… what? Yes, non-smokers. This isn’t fear-mongering, it’s fact! And it’s deeply alarming.
Environmental pollution, passive smoking, prolonged exposure to industrial toxins, poor air quality in cities, even genetic factors - all are now emerging as contributors to cancer, especially in densely populated countries like India. This means that even if you’ve never smoked a cigarette in your life, you are still at risk.
We now know that smoking is not the only culprit behind the rise in cancer cases. In fact, it’s just a part of a much larger, more complex web of causes. Did you know? The word “tumour” was first referred to as Karkinos, the Greek word for crab, by Hippocrates. Apparently, the shape of the swollen veins reminded him of a crab’s claws. Fascinating, right? Anyways, some of the most prevailing cancer types in India and Globally are shown in the following pie diagram -
Now that we’ve seen what cancers are most common, the big question is:
The answer: Yes, we can.
Most of the cancer risk today stems from our daily habits and lifestyle - habits that many of us follow unknowingly. Some risk factors are environmental and beyond our individual control, but a huge percentage is driven by our behavior.
Let’s look at it visually -
From the chart above, we can see that 60% of the reasons which are risking ourselves towards cancer are all habitual and most of it can be credited to our sedentary lifestyle.
Let’s be honest. Look at our daily lives:
• Sitting for hours staring at screens
• Scrolling endlessly on social media
• Binge-watching on our beds or couches
• Eating junk food
• Rarely moving, rarely sweating
Add to that: Smoking, alcohol, stress, sleep deprivation.
This is sedentary lifestyle and it's become the new norm. But is it okay? Absolutely not.
This lifestyle does more than increase your risk of cancer. It leads to:
• Obesity
• Heart diseases
• Diabetes
• Fatty liver
• Depression
• And yes, even early death.
Scary? It should be. How? Let’s have a look.
The most terrifying thing about cancer is that by the time symptoms appear, it might already be late. And unfortunately, many symptoms overlap with those caused by sedentary living. Here are some common early signs of cancer:
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chronic fatigue
• Persistent pain
• Fever
• Skin changes
And what do we usually do? Ignore them. We brush it off as burnout, age, stress, or “just one of those days.”
Obviously there is no guarantee that the measures that we will be seeing here will be 100% effective or cure cancer (What? Yeah - lets put that responsibility on the scientists who are working tirelessly to find a permanent solution to it) but we can at least reduce the risk of getting cancer. I think we can at least do that for ourselves, right? You must love yourself, no? Cool.
Lifestyle Factor | Cancer Risk Impact | Prevention Role |
---|---|---|
Maintaining a Healthy Weight | Reduces Hormones & inflammation | Reduces risk of 13+ cancers |
Doing Regular Exercise | Boosts immune system | Reduces risk of Colon, breast, endometrial risk |
Taking Healthy Diet | Provides Fibers and antioxidants | Reduces risk of Gut, breast, prostate risk |
Consuming No Tobacco | Eliminates major risk factor | Reduces risk of Lung, throat, bladder, more |
Restrict Alcohol consumption | Reduces cell damage & control Estrogen levels | Reduces risk of Liver, breast, colon risk |
Sun Protection | Blocks UV exposure | Skin cancer prevention |
Vaccinations | Prevents virus-linked cancers | Reduces risk of HPV, hepatitis B related cancers |
Regular Screening | Detects early/precancerous | Better outcomes via early intervention |
We can definitely take some steps which are directly in our control to live a healthier life and reduce the risk of cancers or for that matter any other chronic health issues.
This article isn’t meant to scare you but to wake you up. To remind us that in many ways, we’re creating the environment for these chronic health issues to thrive. But with simple daily choices, we can begin to push back.
So, move more, eat better, quit the bad stuff, get checked regularly. Do it not just to live longer, but to live well.
Stay healthy, stay happy
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