Diet and lifestyle

One of the biggest risks is increasing age. Cancer can occur at any age but the risk of developing it increases with age. Nearly two thirds (64%) of people who get cancer are over the age of 65, and more than a third are over 75.

We make lifestyle choices everyday - some we know increase our risk of developing cancer, others may have an influence on our risk. For example, smoking is a major cause of lung cancer and is a factor in other cancers, such as bladder |cancer and cancers of the head and neck|. Other factors that can influence our risk of developing cancer include heavy alcohol consumption and exposure to sunlight.

It is also thought that diet can influence the development of some cancers, although the evidence is less clear. Diets high in animal fats have been linked with breast |cancer, bowel| cancer and prostate| cancer. A diet that is low in fresh fruit and vegetables may also increase your risk of developing some types of cancer. Obesity has been linked to some cancers, such as cancer of the breast or kidney|.

Although we don't know how to prevent someone developing cancer, we do know that you can reduce your risk by making lifestyle choices. For example, not smoking, avoiding sun damage to your skin and not drinking heavily can all reduce the risk of developing some cancers. Also, eating a well balanced diet, that includes five portions of fruit and vegetables, and taking regular exercise may reduce your risk.

There are a number of questions and answers about the causes of cancer and how to reduce risk that you may find helpful to read.  You can also look in our section about eating well for further information on healthy diets|.