Spotlight: Cancer Prevention Action Week
Each year, World Cancer Research Fund holds Cancer Prevention Action Week, which focuses on supporting and empowering the public to make changes to their daily habits, and that of their families, to reduce their risk of preventable cancers.
For Cancer Prevention Action Week 2025 (17th - 23rd February), World Cancer Research are highlighting the links between alcohol and cancer.
Did you know that only 58% of people in the UK are aware of the link between alcohol and increased cancer risk? Despite this, cutting back on alcohol can reduce your risk of at least 6 types of cancer.
We want to spread awareness of the cancer risks of drinking alcohol and hold the government to account in creating an environment where everyone can choose to reduce their alcohol consumption.
When is Cancer Prevention Action Week?
Cancer Prevention Action Week 2025 will take place from the 17th-23rd of February.
To find out more please visit the World Cancer Research Fund website.
Alcohol and cancer: let’s talk
Too many people don’t know that drinking any amount of alcohol increases the risk of at least 7 types of cancer. This year we’re encouraging people to talk about alcohol and cancer to start building higher awareness not only among the public but also in government. We want to start a conversation that will help people lead longer, healthier lives.
There is strong evidence that all types of alcoholic drink can increase the risk of at least 7 cancers:
- breast
- bowel
- head and neck
- oesophageal
- liver
- stomach
Alcoholic drinks are also high in calories and often high in sugar, increasing your risk of gaining weight. Living with overweight or obesity increases our risk of at least 13 different types of cancer.
Cutting back on alcohol – or, ideally, stopping entirely – is always a good idea for our health. There’s never been a better time to cut back, with many alternatives to alcohol widely available. More people are taking up the ‘sober curious’ lifestyle and reaping its health benefits.
How else can I help reduce my risk of cancer?
Many people – including scientists – used to think that cancer was a matter of bad luck and there wasn’t much you could do to avoid getting cancer.
Thanks to the work of World Cancer Research Fund since 1982, we now know that cancer can be prevented in many cases and there are proven ways for people to make a cancer diagnosis less likely.
Experts now believe that up to 40% of cancer cases are preventable, if people don’t smoke, avoid the sun, avoid alcohol, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy body weight, and stayed physically active.
