This document outlines recommendations from the World Cancer Research Fund for reducing cancer risk through lifestyle choices. It discusses 10 main recommendations, including maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, eating a plant-based diet with limited red meat and processed meats, limiting alcohol intake, and not smoking or chewing tobacco. The recommendations are based on extensive reviews of scientific evidence on diet, nutrition, and cancer prevention. The role of health professionals is discussed, including educating patients on following a healthy lifestyle to reduce their cancer risk and supporting cancer survivors.

1. HOW TO REDUCE CANCER RISK
A presentation for health professionals by:
World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF UK)
22 Bedford Square
London WC1B 3HH
Tel: 020 7343 4200
Website: www.wcrf-uk.org
1

2. Contents
o Part 1: About World Cancer Research Fund
(WCRF UK) and the evidence on lifestyle and
cancer risk (slides 3 – 15)
o Part 2: WCRF UK’s Recommendations for Cancer
Prevention (slides 16 – 38)
o Part 3: The role of health professionals, current
awareness levels and how WCRF UK can help
(slides 39 – 48)
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2

3. Part 1: WCRF UK and the
WCRF global network
3

4. About WCRF UK
o Our vision
World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF UK) helps people make
choices that reduce their chances of developing cancer
o Our mission
To fund research on the relationship of nutrition, physical
activity and weight management to cancer risk
To interpret the accumulated scientific literature in
the field
To educate people about choices they can make to reduce
their chances of developing cancer
4

5. Key achievements
o 1997 First Expert Report
Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global
Perspective
o 2007 Second Expert Report
Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of
Cancer: a Global Perspective
o 2009 Policy Report
Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention
o 2007 onwards - Continuous Update Project
Keeping the evidence current
5

6. The burden of cancer
o Cancer is a major cause of death,
disability and lost life years
o In 2008/9, estimated NHS expenditure
on cancer services was over £5 billion
o Cancer is mostly environmentally
determined and largely preventable
6

7. A largely preventable disease
o About a third of the most common cancers in the
UK could be prevented if everyone ate a healthy
diet, was physically active, and
maintained a healthy weight
o This equates to around
80,000 cases a year
o Enough to fill
Wembley Stadium!
7

8. Non-communicable causes of death
UK China
Men
8

9. Age-standardised rates of common cancers
UK China
Men
9

10. Migration data
10

11. Food, nutrition, obesity, physical activity,
and cellular processes linked to cancer
11

12. 12

13. The evidence behind WCRF UK’s message
o 2007 Second Expert Report
o Six years to produce
o Involved over 200 scientists
o Independent observers, including
the FAO, WHO and UNICEF
o Examined all the available
evidence from around the world
13

14. The evidence behind WCRF UK’s message
o Initial sweep found half a
million studies
o Screened down to 7,000 that
were relevant and robust
o Findings reviewed by an
independent Expert Panel of 21
of the world’s top researchers
o Only the strongest evidence was
used as the basis for WCRF UK’s
Recommendations for Cancer
Prevention
14

15. Keeping the evidence current
15

16. Part 2: WCRF UK’s Recommendations for
Cancer Prevention
1. Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight
2. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day
3. Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense
foods (particularly processed foods high in added
sugar, or low in fibre, or high in fat)
4. Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains,
and pulses
5. Limit consumption of red meats and avoid processed
meats
16

17. 6. If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and
1 for women a day
7. Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed
with salt (sodium)
8. Don’t use supplements to protect against cancer
Special population Recommendations:
9. It is best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up
to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods
10. After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the
Recommendations for Cancer Prevention
And, always remember – do not smoke or chew tobacco
17

18. Recommendation 1: Be as lean as
possible without becoming underweight
o A key way to reduce cancer risk – excess body fat increases
risk of bowel, oesophagus, pancreas, kidney, endometrium
(womb) and breast cancer (in post menopausal women)
o Diet based on plant foods and being physically active
18

19. 19

20. Recommendation 2: Be physically
active for at least 30 minutes every day
o Any form of physical activity can help to
protect against bowel and breast cancer
o And reduce the risk of becoming
overweight
o The more, the better!
20

21. 21

22. Recommendation 3: Avoid sugary drinks.
Limit consumption of energy-dense foods
(particularly processed foods high in
added sugar, or low in fibre, or high in fat).
o Sugary drinks and energy-dense foods are linked to
weight gain
o Contain more than about 225-275 kcal per 100g
o Contain more fat and sugar
22

23. 23

24. 24

25. Recommendation 4: Eat more of
a variety of vegetables, fruits,
wholegrains, and pulses such as beans.
o Aim for at least 5 A DAY! Vegetables and fruits help to protect
against a range of cancers
o Include wholegrains or pulses with every meal
o These foods tend to be less energy dense – help us avoid
weight gain
o Contain plenty of water and fibre – fibre can help prevent
bowel cancer
25

26. 26

27. Recommendation 5: Limit consumption
of red meats (such as beef, pork
and lamb) and avoid processed meats
o Red meat and processed meat are both convincingly
linked to bowel cancer
o Aim for less than 500g cooked red meat a week –
choose smaller, leaner portions
o Avoid processed meat, like bacon and
ham, almost always
27

28. Portion of
red meat
Protein
alternatives
28

29. Recommendation 6: If consumed at all,
limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and
1 for women a day
o Alcohol raises the risk of five common cancers
o Liver, breast, bowel and mouth and oesophagus
29

30. What is one drink?
A drink is:
o half a pint of normal strength beer, lager or cider
o one 25ml measure of spirits such as vodka
o one small (125ml) glass of wine
30

31. Drinks and Calories
31

32. Recommendation 7: Limit consumption
of salty foods and foods processed
with salt (sodium)
o High-salt diets are linked to stomach cancer
o Aim for less than 6g a day – about a level teaspoonful
o Most of the salt in our diet comes from processed
foods such as bread, cereals, ready meals and
sweet foods such as biscuits!
32

33. 33

34. Recommendation 8: Don't use
supplements to protect against cancer
o The best option is a balanced diet
o High dose supplements of some nutrients
can affect the risk of different cancers
o Some people can benefit from taking supplements
for other reasons – refer patients to their GP
34

35. Special Population
Recommendations
35

36. Recommendation 9: It is best for
mothers to breastfeed exclusively for
up to 6 months and then add other
liquids and food.
o Breastfeeding can protect mothers from breast cancer
o Having been breastfed can protect children from
becoming overweight and obese
36

37. Recommendation 10: After treatment,
cancer survivors should follow the
Recommendations for Cancer Prevention.
o Cancer survivors are people who are living with a
diagnosis of cancer
o Growing evidence shows physical activity and other
measures that help us maintain a healthy weight may
help to prevent cancer recurrence
o Seek advice from an appropriately trained
consultant or dietitian
37

38. And, always remember –
do not smoke or chew tobacco
38

39. Part 3: What can health professionals
do?
WCRF/AICR’s 2009 Policy Report:
o Multinational bodies
o Government
o Industry
o Health professionals
o Schools
o Media
o Workplaces
o Civil society organisations
o Individuals
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40. The role of health professionals
Health professionals are a trusted source of
health information.
You:
o Can give advice on wellbeing and prevention, not just
diagnosis and management of disease
o Meet people when they are open to and in need of
health promotion messages
o Take the lead in promoting health to colleagues,
other professionals and other actor groups
o Be effective in delivering successful behaviour
change initiatives
40

41. Awareness of risk factors
YouGov Survey Results August 2011 (2029 subjects – general public)
“Which, if any, of the following do you think increases
your risk of getting cancer?”
o 86% of people identified smoking
o Only 60% identified a poor diet or being overweight
o Only 50% of respondents identified physical inactivity
as a cancer risk factor
o Only 57% identified drinking alcohol
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42. Awareness of risk factors
Even fewer – only 39% of respondents – correctly
identified processed meat as a cancer risk factor
But:
o 9% of respondents identified coffee; and
o 20% identified sweeteners
even though the evidence does not suggest that either
of these affects cancer risk
42

43. How WCRF UK can help:
our resources for the general public
43

44. How WCRF UK can help:
our resources for health professionals
www.wcrf-uk.org/health-professionals
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45. How WCRF UK can help:
health professionals web section
o The latest information
o The latest articles
o Details of upcoming conferences
o Statistics on cancer rates, diet, lifestyle and weight
o Downloadable resources including meal planners, food diaries
and factsheets
o Online tools including a BMI and energy density calculator
o Useful links
o www.wcrf-uk.org/health-professionals
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46. How WCRF UK can help:
monthly eNews
o Free monthly
eNews for health
professionals
o The latest news on
cancer prevention
o Hear about new
resources, workshops
and grants first
o www.wcrf-uk.org/eNews
46

47. The Great Grub Club
www.greatgrubclub.com
47

48. Thank you for listening to
this presentation
o To give WCRF UK feedback on this presentation, their
health professionals’ web section, their monthly eNews or
any of the WCRF UK resources, email informed@wcrf.org
Review date: December 2013 48