Cancer prevention: Why awareness, action matter

“Cancer does not always happen by chance. Many causes are known. Many are preventable, yet too many people ignore the signs. Did you know that using condoms can prevent certain cancers? Did you know that taking blood tonics or multivitamins without a doctor’s prescription can increase cancer risk? Did you know that some common infections in your home can quietly cause cancer?”

Cancer is not a single disease. It is a group of conditions where cells grow uncontrollably and invade nearby tissues. Some cancers appear without a clear cause. Many have identifiable risk factors. Understanding these causes and acting on them is one of the most powerful ways to reduce cancer worldwide.

Idiopathic versus preventable cancers

Not all cancers have a clear trigger. These are called idiopathic cancers. They arise from random mutations, inherited genes, or subtle interactions that scientists do not fully understand. A significant portion of cancers falls into this category.

On the other hand, according to WHO’s joint news release on February 3, 2026, around 37 to 40 per cent of cancers worldwide are linked to preventable risk factors, including infections, environmental exposures, and lifestyle-related triggers.

If individuals and communities address these preventable causes through vaccination, safe sex, proper infection treatment, and limiting harmful chemical exposures, it is possible to reduce the global cancer burden by up to 40 per cent. Prevention is practical, powerful, and lifesaving.

Infections as major cancer drivers

Many people underestimate the role of infections in causing cancer. These infections are not merely risks; they are established causes of specific cancers. Preventing infection directly reduces cancer risk.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus responsible for nearly all cervical cancers and some anal and throat cancers. Hepatitis B and C viruses cause chronic liver damage that can lead to liver cancer. These infections are transmitted through sexual contact and blood.

Abstinence, being faithful to one partner, and consistent condom use are practical ways to prevent cancers linked to these viruses.

Helicobacter pylori infects the stomach lining and increases the risk of gastric cancer. In my experience as a doctor, patients often do not complete the full 14-day antibiotic therapy at home. Many skip the follow-up test after 30 days to confirm eradication. Failure to complete treatment allows the infection to persist and increases cancer risk.

Folic acid and cell division

Unsupervised supplement use can influence cancer risk. Many multivitamins and blood tonics contain folic acid. Folic acid is essential for DNA synthesis and normal cell division. Cancer cells are among the fastest dividing cells in the body.

Silent cancers may exist in the body for many years without symptoms. The immune system, including cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, can often destroy early cancer cells. However, some cancer cells survive, creating a long-term battle with the immune system.

Taking folic acid supplements or other blood tonics and boosters containing folic acid, without a doctor’s guidance, especially after age 40, can provide nutrients that cancer cells use to replicate faster. Anaemia does not always require blood tonics. Proper investigation by a doctor is essential. Avoid self-medication with multivitamins at high-risk ages.

Environmental carcinogens in industry

Chemical and mineral exposures can increase cancer risk. People in certain industries in Ghana face this risk. Awareness and protective measures are essential.

Benzene exposure occurs in many workplaces. It is found in gasoline, fuel vapours, printing ink, adhesives, paints, and shoe glue. Workers in automotive repair shops, petrol stations, chemical plants, and printing factories are most exposed. Prolonged exposure can cause blood cancers and bone marrow disorders. Wearing gloves, masks, long sleeves, and other protective clothing reduces risk.

Asbestos exposure is common in the carpentry, construction, roofing, and insulation industries. Asbestos is present in roofing sheets, ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, and cement boards. Carpentry shops may use asbestos-containing boards or panels for furniture or partition walls. Breathing airborne fibres can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. Masks, gloves, long sleeves, proper ventilation, and careful handling prevent exposure.

Strengthening enforcement of Ghana’s Factories, Offices, and Shops Act and updating workplace safety regulations ensures long-term protection for workers.

Taking prevention seriously

While idiopathic cancers cannot currently be prevented, the preventable fraction, nearly 40 per cent globally, represents a huge opportunity. Safe sex, vaccinations, proper infection treatment, careful supplement use, and reducing chemical exposure can lower cancer incidence and save millions of lives.

Prevention is not just personal; it is societal. Public health policies, workplace safety enforcement, and education campaigns amplify individual actions and ensure broader impact.

Call to action

Cancer is not always inevitable. By understanding the causes, following medical guidance, and adopting preventive measures, people can dramatically reduce their risk.

Vaccinate against HPV. Complete Helicobacter pylori treatment and confirm eradication. Avoid unnecessary chemical exposures. Use supplements responsibly. Practice safe sex. Wear protective clothing in hazardous workplaces.

“We cannot control idiopathic cancer, but we can control preventable causes. Prevention is powerful. Awareness is essential. Action is life-saving.”

The writer is a Global Health and Governance enthusiast.

DR MICHAEL BAAH BINEY

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