Researchers in London surveyed people to better understand what people believed were the causes of cancer. Most people surveyed had a very poor understanding of what lifestyle factors were linked to cancer. Those surveyed believed that stress (43%), food additives (42%), genetically modified foods (34%), and exposure to electromagnetic frequencies (35%), microwave oven (19%), and drinking from plastic bottles (15%) increased their risk for cancer despite the lack of good scientific evidence. The researchers speculated that this misinformation may reflect the way people access news today through the internet and social media.
It is estimated that 4 in every 10 cases of cancer could be prevented by lifestyle changes. There is no guarantee against getting cancer but if you know the biggest risk factors you can stack the odds in your favor. Smoking, being overweight, overexposure to UV radiation, and eating too few fruits and vegetables are the biggest preventable causes.
