Causes of cancer and reducing your riskCauses of cancer and reducing your risk
Find a clinical trial
Search our clinical trials database for all cancer trials and studies recruiting in the UK
Cancer Chat forum
Talk to other people affected by cancer
Nurse helpline
0808 800 4040
Questions about cancer? Call freephone or email us
Smoking
Smoking is the most important preventable cause of cancer in the world.
Obesity and weight
Obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking.
Physical activity
Around 3,400 cases of cancer in the UK each year could be prevented by keeping active.
Diet and healthy eating
Eating a healthy balanced diet can play an important role in reducing your risk of cancer.
Sun and UV
Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or sunbeds is the main cause of skin cancer.
Air pollution and radon gas
Although exposure to air pollution can be linked to cancer, for a person in the UK the risk is fairly low.
Infections and HPV
You can’t catch cancer, but some infections such as HPV can increase your risk.
Inherited genes
Some inherited faulty genes can increase your risk of cancer.
Workplace causes of cancer
Some jobs can affect people’s risk of cancer, or may have done in the past.
Age and cancer
Although cancer can occur at any age, it is much more common in older people.
