Two-fifths of cancers ‘are caused by lifestyle’

Two out of every five diagnosed cases of cancer in the UK each year are related to lifestyle factors.

This is according to a new report from Cancer Research UK, which claims that smoking, drinking and poor dietary habits are creating a significant healthcare burden at present.

Among men, tobacco is the biggest cause, accounting for 23 percent of cases, while the figure for women is 15.6 percent.

Next on the list for males is a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet, while for women it is being overweight.

Lead author of the report Professor Max Parkin told the BBC that too many people believe cancer is "down to fate or in the genes and that it is the luck of the draw whether they get it".

However, he added that a large proportion of diagnosed cases are down to "things we mostly have the power to change".

The findings by the team reflect those of the World Cancer Research Fund, which claims that healthy habits from an early age reduce the risk of getting cancer.