Following Cancer Prevention Guidelines Lowers All-Cause Mortality

Following recommendations for cancer prevention has been found to significantly reduce the risk of dying from all causes. Researchers led by Marji McCullough at the American Cancer Society used diet and lifestyle questionnaires filled out by 111,966 non-smoking men and women in the Cancer Prevention Study (CPS)-II Nutrition Cohort to determine whether people that followed recommendations for cancer prevention had a lower risk of death from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all-causes. Results showed that after 14 years participants with high compliance scores (7-8) had a 42% lower risk of death compared to those with low compliance scores (0-2). The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was 48% lower in men and 58% lower in women with high compliance scores. Whilst the risk of dying from cancer was 30% lower in men and 24% lower in women.  Similar, although not always statistically significant, reductions were observed for never and former smokers.