A new American Cancer Society report reveals mixed progress in reducing cancer risk factors in the US, with declining smoking rates being a notable exception. According to the report, the prevalence of people smoking fell from 14% in 2019 to 11% in 2023.
While this is encouraging, there are concerns about lagging cervical cancer prevention efforts and the plateauing of HPV vaccination rates. The report found that only 73.4% of women aged 21-65 were up-to-date on recommended cervical cancer screenings in 2021, leaving more women at risk of not detecting disease early.
The data also suggests that nearly half of new cancer cases among US adults aged 30 and older could be attributed to preventable risk factors such as cigarette smoking, excess body weight, and ultraviolet radiation exposure. The report notes that obesity rates remain high, physical activity levels are suboptimal, and HPV vaccination levels have plateaued since 2021.
Despite historic reductions in smoking levels and improvements in breast and colorectal cancer screenings, the report highlights racial disparities in cancer rates and deaths persisting as marginalized groups face barriers accessing healthcare. The study emphasizes the importance of staying up-to-date on cancer screenings to further prevent thousands of additional cancer cases and deaths.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/23/health/cancer-prevention-smoking-hpv-vaccination-wellness/index.html