We commend the UK Government for setting out an ambitious 10-year strategy with a strong focus on survival, innovation, and patient experience.
Yet the Plan misses a chance to put prevention front and centre, with stronger alcohol policy, breastfeeding protection, and a dedicated focus on the modifiable risk factors that drive cancer
A bold ambition on survival and care
We particularly welcome the Government’s bold target that 75% of people diagnosed with cancer from 2035 will be cancer-free or living well five years after diagnosis – a genuine step change in ambition. The Plan’s emphasis on earlier diagnosis, reducing emergency presentations, expanding evidence-based screening, and improving access to innovative treatments has the potential to deliver meaningful improvements for patients across England.
We also welcome commitments to improve patient experience and outcomes, including personalised care, better coordination, and stronger accountability for delivery through a reformed National Cancer Board.
Progress on prevention – but a missed opportunity to go further
We welcome the Plan’s commitments on cancer prevention, including action to crack down on the illegal use of sunbeds and harmful UV exposure, progress towards a smoke-free generation, and expanded access to HPV vaccination as part of the ambition to eliminate cervical cancer. These are important, evidence-based interventions that will prevent cancers and reduce future pressure on the health system.
However, prevention deserves greater prominence. New global evidence shows that up to four in ten cancers worldwide are linked to preventable causes. Tackling the lifestyle and environmental factors that increase cancer risk is one of the most effective and affordable ways to prevent cancer in the long term.
Crucially, modifiable risk factors are not evenly distributed. Tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets and obesity disproportionately affect people in lower socio-economic groups, driving stark and persistent inequalities in cancer incidence, survival and mortality. Strong, population-level prevention policies are therefore essential not only to reduce cancer overall, but to narrow health inequalities and ensure the benefits of progress are shared fairly.
We believe the Plan would have benefitted from a dedicated chapter on prevention, helping to drive a necessary mindset shift and embed the principle that diet, alcohol, and breastfeeding policies are cancer policies.
Action on alcohol and breastfeeding is lacking
The Plan does not expansively build on the wider prevention measures announced in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, particularly in relation to alcohol policy. Alcohol remains a leading avoidable cause of cancer, yet the Plan does not commit to minimum unit pricing (MUP) or restrictions on alcohol advertising and marketing, including where it reaches children and young people – among the most effective and evidence-based tools for reducing population-level alcohol harm and cancer risk.
We also note the absence of strengthened action to protect breastfeeding, including full compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Breastfeeding reduces cancer risk for mothers and improves long-term health outcomes for children, and stronger implementation of the Code should form part of a comprehensive, life-course approach to cancer prevention.
Partnerships with food manufacturers must also be approached with caution, given past experience of policy dilution. Where voluntary approaches fall short, Government must not shy away from mandatory measures. Strong governance, transparency, and protection from undue commercial influence are essential to ensure prevention policies deliver for public health.
Biomedical innovation matters but it is not enough
We are pleased to see the Plan’s commitment to biomedical prevention, including continued rollout of the HPV vaccine, trials of preventative vaccines such as LungVax, and plans to accelerate uptake of GLP-1 medicines for those who clinically need them. These innovations are hugely important and represent real progress in reducing cancer risk and improving outcomes.
But vaccines and medicines alone are not sufficient. We must also tackle the environments that make us sick. We cannot continue to treat people only to send them back to the same food, alcohol, and physical environments that drove ill health in the first place. Population-level prevention policies remain essential to reducing cancer incidence at scale.
Crucially, prevention is not only about avoiding diagnosis. It also supports survival and quality of life, contributing directly to living well with and beyond cancer. Good nutrition, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight are fundamental to recovery, rehabilitation, and long-term wellbeing. Prevention and survivorship are not competing priorities – they are mutually reinforcing.
Digital innovation as a driver of prevention
We welcome the ambition to harness digital innovation through the NHS App. By 2028, the App will allow patients to manage screening invitations, appointments, treatment plans, and prehabilitation, with personalised prevention advice drawing on genomic, lifestyle, and wearable data.
This creates a major opportunity to establish the NHS App as a trusted, accessible source of cancer prevention information, supporting people to understand and act on behaviours that can influence cancer risk over their lifetime. We would welcome the opportunity to contribute evidence-based, tried and tested prevention resources, developed and evaluated for public audiences, to support this ambition and ensure alignment with the best available science.
Prehabilitation, rehabilitation and supportive oncology
We strongly welcome the Plan’s focus on prehabilitation, rehabilitation, and supportive oncology, including dietary and physical activity advice, psychological support, and acute oncology for those with more complex needs. The evidence is clear: these interventions improve treatment tolerance, recovery, and long-term outcomes. We believe the ambition should be for these services to be available to all patients, where appropriate, as standard.
Research and the cancer workforce
Research and the cancer workforce will be central to delivering the Plan’s ambitions. While we acknowledge the focus on accelerating clinical research and innovation, there is a clear opportunity to strengthen investment in cancer prevention research, including implementation research on modifiable risk factors. Healthcare professionals must also be supported with the time, training, and tools to deliver prevention, behaviour change, and survivorship support alongside treatment.
Children and young people
We welcome the Plan’s commitment to improving nutrition for children and young people undergoing cancer treatment in acute settings. Good nutrition is fundamental to treatment tolerance, recovery, and survival. We hope this approach will be extended to all patients, and that public procurement across health settings consistently meets the highest nutritional and sustainability standards through the upcoming NHS food standards review.
Matching survival ambition with prevention action
We welcome the ambition and scope of the National Cancer Plan. The integration of prehabilitation, rehabilitation, supportive oncology, digital innovation, and prevention advice into the cancer pathway is a significant step forward.
However, there remains a missed opportunity to embed prevention at the heart of the Plan, through stronger alcohol policy, breastfeeding protection, and a dedicated focus on the modifiable risk factors that drive cancer incidence.
A Plan that matches its ambition on survival with bold, population-level prevention action will reduce cancer incidence, improve outcomes, and deliver a financially sustainable cancer strategy for generations to come.
We stand ready to work with Government, healthcare professionals, and partners to help make this ambition a reality.
More policy-related news and blogs
World Cancer Research Fund – part of the World Cancer Research Fund network – welcomes many of the recommendations in the new US Dietary Guidelines for Americans that support healthier diets and reduce the burden of diet-related disease.
When it comes to cancer prevention, we have some concerns with the guidelines relating to alcohol and red and processed meat.
The strong emphasis on healthy dietary patterns, including increased consumption of fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, is very helpful – as are the recommendations to limit highly processed foods and products high in added sugars. The clear inclusion of plant-source protein foods – such as beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and soy – is also positive.
The guidance to drink mainly water and to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and consume less alcohol is helpful, as we know there is no safe level of drinking alcohol when it comes to cancer prevention. Finally, we strongly welcome support for breastfeeding.
These Guidelines help to translate evidence into clear public advice and shape future policies. However, from a cancer prevention perspective, the Guidelines’ increased emphasis on animal-source proteins, and particularly the emphasis on red meat, is at odds with the scientific evidence linking higher intakes of red and processed meat to increased cancer risk.
Similarly, the promotion of whole-fat dairy raises concerns, given the potential contribution to excess weight gain. In light of such issues, we remain committed to informing the public with authoritative advice, which we develop based on the latest scientific evidence from leading researchers worldwide.
Below is a more detailed summary of the what the Guidelines mean for cancer prevention.
Important takeaways from the guidance
- Clear guidance is provided to prioritise whole foods and limit highly processed products, including advice to avoid salty and sweet packaged snacks and to favour nutrient-dense, home-prepared meals. This approach is closely aligned with our emphasis on limiting fast foods and processed foods high in fat, starches and sugars, and on reducing overall dietary energy density as a pathway to achieving a healthier body weight and lowering cancer risk.
- The Guidelines strengthen the stance on added sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages, including explicit recommendations to limit consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and to limit added sugars at meals. This aligns well with our evidence of sugar intake as a contributor to excess weight gain and poorer overall diet quality.
- Plant foods remain important to the guidance, with daily targets for fruit and vegetable intake and a clear recommendation to prioritise fibre-rich whole grains. This maps directly onto our emphasis on dietary and lifestyle patterns and core cancer prevention recommendations.
- Breastfeeding is explicitly encouraged, with guidance to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and to continue breastfeeding for two years or beyond. This is consistent with our recommendation that mothers breastfeed where possible and complements the focus on breast cancer prevention.
Important clarifications based on our global scientific research
- The Guidelines place a strong emphasis on increasing protein intake, explicitly including red meat and setting a higher quantitative protein target.
From a cancer prevention perspective, this emphasis would benefit from clearer direction to prioritise plant-based protein sources such as tofu, beans, lentils and other legumes, as well as nuts, seeds, fish and poultry, while reiterating World Cancer Research Fund guidance to limit red meat consumption and avoid processed meat altogether. - Furthermore, the Guidelines promote protein-rich foods, in relation to meat; specifically, meat with no or limited added sugars, refined starches or chemical additives is recommended. Avoidance of processed meat aligns with our recommendation to eat little, if any, processed meat based on strong evidence of an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
- While the Guidelines prioritise fibre-rich wholegrains, they do not have significant prominence in the new ‘Real Food’ pyramid, which undermines their importance.
- The Guidelines adopt a general recommendation to consume less alcohol. For cancer prevention, it is best not to drink alcohol at all, as there is no safe threshold of consumption for cancer risk for at least seven cancer types.
- The explicit endorsement of full-fat dairy, with guidance to consume three servings per day, warrants careful interpretation given its contribution to excess weight and some variation in evidence by cancer site. Framing dairy as one possible option, rather than a central or universal recommendation, may therefore be more appropriate.
- The Guidelines’ discussion of “healthy fats” includes foods such as butter and beef tallow, while still recommending that saturated fat remain below 10% of total energy intake.
This recommendation needs careful explanation because butter and beef tallow are high in saturated fat and can affect overall energy balance. Maintenance of a healthy weight is important, as overweight and obesity increase the risk of at least 13 cancers.
Three important policy implications for the future
- Affordability and access: Achieving the dietary pattern outlined in the guidelines will require targeted policy measures to improve the availability and affordability of fresh and whole foods. At present, such diets remain out of reach for many Americans, particularly those on lower incomes. Without significant structural interventions there is a risk that the guidelines may exacerbate existing health inequalities.
- Clarity and implementation: Greater clarity is needed on how “highly processed foods” are defined within the guidelines and how this definition will be operationalised. Clear definitions are essential to inform coherent policy action, regulation, monitoring and public communication.
- Policy alignment and delivery: It remains unclear whether new or strengthened policy measures will be introduced to support the recommended dietary changes, or how these guidelines will be embedded across food, agriculture, procurement and public health policies to enable meaningful implementation. In addition, the guidelines should also consider broader factors such as sustainability and planetary health.
Explore our research
More useful information
Understanding the origins of bowel cancer risk
Our funded research showed greater birthweight or body size during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood was linked with higher risk of bowel cancer in later life.
It was the first CUP Global review to analyse and judge all the research examining how factors such as weight, height and body size in early life relate to our risk of bowel cancer as we get older.
Brisk walking cold reduce your cancer risk
Our funded researchers published evidence that brisk walking is linked to a lower risk of 5 cancers, including anal, liver, small intestine, thyroid, and lung.
Smaller waist or more exercise? For cancer prevention, both is best
In the world’s first study looking at the effectiveness of combining maintaining a smaller waist with staying active, we found that only doing one is not enough to lower our risk of cancer.
The study found that people not meeting World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on waist circumference are at 11% greater risk, even if they are physically active.
And people not meeting WHO guidelines for physical exercise are at 4% greater risk, even if “abdominally lean” (i.e. they have a smaller waist). Achieving neither means a 15% greater risk.
The simple rule that cuts cancer risk by 23%
We released a first-of-its-kind study into how the number of different food types consumed, measured as Dietary Species Richness (the number of species an individual consumes per year) affects the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancer.
The study found that individuals with the most diverse diets had a 23% lower risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers compared with those with the least variety. The risk decreased by 6% for every 10 extra species per year added to their diet.
The growing need for your support
Your generous donations have enabled us to fund 19 new research grants this year, worth a total of £5 million, bringing our network’s achievements over the last 20 years to more than 200 research grants awarded and over £50m invested in research overall.
Over the past year, 13 projects came to a close, delivering inspiring new findings. These completed studies explored many ways to prevent cancer, improve treatment, and support people living with and beyond the disease. They examined how factors like body weight, nutrition, inflammation, and even sleep patterns may influence cancer risk, treatment side effects, and recovery.
Some looked at how early-life infections, obesity, and physical activity can affect cancer risk later in life, while others tested promising treatments or searched for new ways to use cancer drugs. There were also studies researching how to help people living with and beyond cancer live healthier lives, from technology-based tools and personalised vitamin D supplements to culturally tailored support for Indigenous communities and families of children with cancer.
As the number of cancer diagnoses grows worldwide, research into cancer prevention is more vital than ever. Thanks to your continuing support, we can continue to fund novel and innovative research and push the boundaries of knowledge on cancer research so that fewer people die from a preventable cancer.
Donations from our fantastic supporters are smartly invested into the most impactful opportunities in science, guided by our wide network of independent leading experts.
Each year, millions of people hear the words “you have cancer” – and millions more are quietly edging towards a preventable diagnosis because of factors like diet, weight, inactivity or environmental exposures.
There’s a huge opportunity here: we know that 40% of cancer cases could be prevented. But there are still major gaps in the evidence that our latest round of awards will help to fill.
The three charities – World Cancer Research Fund, the American Institute for Cancer Research and Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds – have funded 19 grants through our Regular Grant Programme (12 awards) and INSPIRE Research Challenge (7 awards), backing researchers who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cancer prevention and cancer survivorship.
In total, £5,115,693.43 will be awarded from our network to projects led from 9 countries across the world. Of these 19 awards:
- 12 (63%) are focused on preventing cancer
- 7 (37%) are focused on helping people live better and longer after cancer
These grants range from global cohort studies using cutting-edge ‘omics’ technologies, to clinical trials testing exercise during chemotherapy, to innovative lifestyle interventions that survivors can use right now.
This year, their specific interests span everything from microplastics and air pollution, to insect-based fibre, ultra-processed foods in childhood, and exercise woven into cancer treatment.
Rethinking what’s on our plates (and in our environment)
Food, drink and environmental exposures are shaping cancer risk in ways science is only beginning to understand. Several of our new projects are tackling this head-on.
- Hidden DNA ‘typos’ in food and bowel cancer
At the University of Oxford, Professor Skirmantas Kriaucionis is investigating whether modified DNA building blocks can ‘sneak’ into our cells and damage our DNA, increasing the risk of bowel cancer. If certain cooking methods or ingredients generate these building blocks, this research could ultimately help people – and food producers – make safer choices. - Wholegrains vs refined grains across 20 cancers
At the Cancer Registry of Norway, Dr Dagfinn Aune is using data from more than 480,000 people to understand how whole grains and refined grains affect the risk of 20 different cancers. The findings will help show how many cancers might be prevented if more people swap refined grains for wholegrain options. - Sugar, soft drinks and pancreatic cancer
At the University of Padova, Dr Alessandro Carrer is exploring how fructose from sugary drinks may fuel early pancreatic cancer development. By pinpointing this pathway, the team hopes to clarify whether cutting back on certain sugary drinks could lower risk and inform future prevention strategies. - Ultra-processed foods in childhood and lifetime cancer risk
At Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Dr Sherly (Xueyi) Li is leading the first comprehensive study to estimate how much ultra-processed food children are eating in Australia and 25 European countries, and how this might impact their future cancer risk. This project aims to provide crucial evidence for dietary guidelines and policies aimed at protecting children from unhealthy food environments. - Microplastics, air pollution and colorectal cancer
At IFOM in Milan, Dr Vito Amodio is asking whether microplastics, nanoplastics and tiny air pollution particles (like PM2.5) contribute to colorectal cancer by driving inflammation and disrupting the immune system. The results could inform both environmental policy and personal risk reduction. - Reducing colorectal cancer risk with cricket powder and chitin
At the University of Almeria, Dr Carmen Rodriguez Garcia is exploring whether chitin, a dietary fibre found in cricket powder, can help protect the bowel. By analysing samples from a completed dietary trial, the team will see how chitin affects gut bacteria, inflammation and chemical tags on DNA in the colon – all early warning signs for colorectal cancer. This innovative project links sustainable diets with cancer prevention and could inform future trials and dietary guidance.
Protecting people where the burden is highest
Cancer prevention isn’t just a high-income country issue. Several of our new awards are designed to address urgent evidence gaps in regions where the burden is particularly severe.
- Mycotoxins, infections and Burkitt lymphoma in African children
At IARC, Dr Rita Khoueiry is investigating how mycotoxins – toxic substances produced by moulds in staple foods – and Epstein-Barr virus combine to cause Burkitt lymphoma, a fast-growing childhood cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. By following a mother-child cohort from pregnancy and analysing biological samples over time, this work aims to identify modifiable risk factors and lay the groundwork for prevention strategies that protect children now and in future generations. - Oesophageal cancer precursors in the African Oesophageal Cancer Corridor
At IARC, Dr Valerie McCormack is leading a community-based study in Malawi to understand how dietary N-nitrosamines – carcinogens found in some traditional foods and drinks – and other lifestyle factors contribute to early changes in the oesophagus that can precede cancer. By identifying high-risk exposures, this work can inform local prevention strategies in one of the world’s highest-risk regions.
These projects are about levelling the playing field so that advances in cancer prevention benefit people everywhere – not just those living in wealthier countries.
Turning treatment time into healing time
Six of our new awards are focused on cancer survivorship – helping people with cancer live longer, better lives by embedding lifestyle support into care.
- Exercise during chemotherapy infusion for metastatic colon cancer
At the University of Sydney, Dr Kate Edwards is testing a simple but powerful idea: what if patients cycle on a stationary bike during their chemotherapy infusion, instead of sitting still. The EXERTION-mC trial will test whether this approach can improve tumour response, side effects and quality of life for people with metastatic colorectal cancer. - Exercise during immunotherapy for melanoma
At Australian Catholic University, Dr Eva Zopf is investigating whether a structured exercise programme is safe and feasible during adjuvant immunotherapy for people with melanoma – and whether it can improve side effects, wellbeing and immune responses. With immunotherapy now used widely for many cancers, this work could help shape future exercise-oncology recommendations. - Long-term benefits of exercise in metastatic breast cancer
At UMC Utrecht, Professor Anne May is following up participants from the large PREFERABLE-EFFECT trial to see whether the benefits of a 9-month supervised exercise programme – such as less fatigue and better quality of life – can be sustained 2–3 years later. Understanding long-term impact and cost-effectiveness is vital for integrating exercise as part of standard care for metastatic breast cancer. - Better sleep and support for people with primary brain tumours
At the University of Sydney, Dr Megan Jeon is testing telehealth group cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) for people living with primary brain tumours. Sleep problems are common and debilitating in this group yet often go untreated. This feasibility study will explore whether CBT-I, which is the gold standard nonpharmacological treatment, can safely improve sleep, mood and daily functioning in a population that has been largely overlooked in survivorship research. - Integrated lifestyle programme for cancer survivors
At the University of Colorado, Dr Emily Hill is developing and testing an integrated nutrition and exercise programme for post-treatment survivors that also includes sleep education, stress management and wearable technology such as smart watches and connected scales. By tracking stress, immune markers and behaviour change together, the study aims to show how lifestyle interventions improve health – and how to design programmes that survivors value and actually use. - Dietary fats and response to lung cancer immunotherapy
At the University of Torino, Professor Chiara Riganti will map “good” and “bad” fats in non-small cell lung cancer tumours to see which lipid patterns predict response to immunotherapy. The team will then test whether diets rich in “good” (mono- and poly-unsaturated) fats can boost treatment effectiveness in advanced laboratory models – enhancing immunotherapy and exploring other potential health benefits. - Balancing protein and fibre to support bowel cancer treatment
At Wageningen University, Dr Dieuwertje Kok is studying how the balance of protein and fibre in the diet affects recovery and long-term outcomes for people with bowel cancer. Using data from over 2,100 participants in the COLON study, plus a new dietary intervention, the team will examine how different combinations of protein and fibre relate to treatment complications, cancer recurrence and blood markers. The findings will help shape practical nutrition programmes to support patients through treatment and beyond.
Cracking the biology that links lifestyle to cancer
Several grants are focused on understanding how lifestyle factors ‘get under the skin’ to influence cancer risk, progression and response to treatment.
- Thyroid hormones, lifestyle and liver cancer risk
At IARC, Dr Mazda Jenab will investigate how thyroid hormone metabolism and lifestyle combine to influence liver cancer risk, using large international cohorts and genetic data. - Metabolic health, blood proteins and lifestyle-related cancers
At IARC, Dr Komodo Matta will use proteomics (large-scale protein profiling) to understand how metabolic health drives a range of lifestyle-related cancers – and identify blood protein signatures that could become targets for prevention. - Body composition, inflammation and multiple myeloma
At the University of Bristol, Dr Lucy Goudswaard will explore how body fat distribution and inflammation influence the development of multiple myeloma from its precursor condition, MGUS, helping to identify high-risk individuals and new intervention targets. - Exploring selenium and lung cancer risk
At the University of Southern Denmark, Professor Paolo Ceppi is investigating how selenium, a dietary mineral found in foods like nuts, meat and grains, influences the development of non-small cell lung cancer. By combining advanced lab studies with analysis of long-term selenium intake human populations, the goal is to provide clear, evidence-based guidance on selenium intake that could help reduce the burden of this deadly disease.
Together, these projects will help turn broad advice like “improve metabolic health” into precise pathways and actionable strategies.
Why this matters – and how donors make it possible
All of this science has one simple goal: fewer people getting cancer, and better lives for those who do.
From children growing up surrounded by ultra-processed foods and environmental pollutants, to adults at high risk of bowel, liver, pancreatic or oesophageal cancer, to people navigating life with metastatic breast cancer, brain tumours, melanoma or myeloma
These 19 projects are designed to produce the kind of robust, practical evidence that changes guidelines, shapes policy and transforms care.
None of it would be possible without the generosity of people and organisations who choose to support our work. Every donation – whether it’s a monthly gift, a legacy in a Will, or a fundraising challenge – helps us award more of this high-impact, prevention and survivorship-focused research. Thank you for supporting us.
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Full list of research grants
Regular Grant Programme
1. Professor Anne May, University Medical Centre (UMC) Utrecht (UCMU), the Netherlands: Long-term effects of exercise on quality of life in patients with metastatic breast cancer: a follow-up study of the randomized PREFERABLE-EFFECT study – £224,213.65
2. Professor Paolo Ceppi, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark: Exploring Selenium and Lung Cancer Risk – £384,944.00
3. Dr Dagfinn Aune, Cancer Registry of Norway, Norway: Whole grains and refined grains and cancer incidence: habitual intakes, changes in intakes, substitutions and risk of 20 cancers in four Scandinavian cohort studies and a large American multiethnic cohort – £500,000.00
4. Dr Dieuwertje Kok Wageningen University, the Netherlands: Balancing dietary protein and fibre intake to improve outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment £464,411.00
5. Dr Rita Khoueiry, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), France: Studying the impact of in-utero and early life exposure to mycotoxins on viral infections and the epigenome: unveiling the risk factors of endemic Burkitt Lymphoma in African children – £498,285.25
6. Dr Valerie McCormack, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), France: Diet, N-nitrosamines and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma precursors in the African Esophageal Cancer Corridor: EndoSCCAPE – A community-based cross-sectional study in Malawi – £413,400.00
7. Professor Skirmantas Kriaucionis, University of Oxford, United Kingdom: Modified Nucleic Acids in Diet and Bowel Cancer Risk – £489,531.32
8. Dr Mazda Jenab, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), France: Investigating the Role of Thyroid Hormone Metabolism in Liver Cancer Development: Integrating Lifestyle and Omics Data from Large Cohort Studies (HepaThyroid-omics) – £498,196.61
9. Dr Kate Edwards, University of Sydney, Australia: EXERTION-mC: EXERcise during chemoTherapy infusION to improve outcomes for people with metastatic Colon cancer – £499,242.00
10. Dr Alessandro Carrer, University of Padova, Italy: Interrogating the impact of fructose-to-acetate conversion for nucleolus organization and pancreatic cancer predisposition – £500,000.00
11. Dr Eva Zopf, Australian Catholic University, Australia: Safety and feasibility of exercise in patients with melanoma undergoing adjuvant immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy – £59,519.00
12. Professor Chiara Riganti, University of Torino, Italy: Polyunsaturated fatty acids improve immunotherapy efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer – £60,000.00
Inspire Research Challenge
13. Dr Carmen Rodriguez, Garcia University of Almeria, Spain: Reducing Colorectal Cancer Risk with Cricket Powder and Chitin: Analysis of Epigenetic and Inflammatory Biomarkers from a Randomized Controlled Trial – £75,000.00
14. Dr Lucy Goudswaard, University of Bristol, United Kingdom: Characterising the role of body composition and inflammation in multiple myeloma – £74,950.60
15. Dr Komodo Matta, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), France: Understanding the role of metabolic health in lifestyle related cancers through proteomics – £74,100.00
16. Dr Sherly (Xueyi) Li, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia: Ultra-processed food intake in childhood and their link to future risk of cancer – £75,000.00
17. Dr Vito Amodio, IFOM ETS – The AIRC institute of Molecular Oncology, Italy: Dissecting the impact of exposure to environmental pollutants on chronic inflammation and colorectal cancer onset – £74,900.00
18. Dr Megan Jeon, University of Sydney, Australia: A phase II single-arm feasibility study of telehealth group cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in adults with primary brain tumours using a novel online platform for a stepped clinical pathway for sleep disturbance – £75,000.00
19. Dr Emily Hill, Regents of the University of Colorado, United States: Impact of an integrated nutrition and exercise program for post-treatment survivors on sleep quality, perceived stress, and biomarkers of immune dysregulation – £75,000.00
Latest news and blogs
The UK government published its 10-year Health Plan on 3 July, setting out its ambitions to reform the health system and shift the focus from sickness to prevention.
As a cancer prevention charity with a vision of a world where no one dies from a preventable cancer, we welcome the Plan’s direction but there are many key areas of health policy where it simply falls short of what the public needs.
Positive inclusions
Many of the commitments in the Plan had already been announced and were warmly received, such as the expansions of free school meals and the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.
Encouragingly, the Plan also includes new mandatory measures that mark a meaningful step towards creating healthier environments for all.
These include:
- Mandatory healthy food sales reporting for all large companies in the food sector.
- Mandatory healthy food standard to improve the healthiness of sales.
- Updates to the nutrient profile model, used to set marketing restrictions on junk food.
- 10% uplift to restore the value of the Healthy Start scheme from 2026–27.
- Mandatory labelling on alcoholic drinks to include consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.
- Place-based approach to physical activity, including £250m for 100 places via Sport England, at least £400m for local community sports facilities, and new school sport partnerships.
- National walking and running campaign led by Sir Brendan Foster.
- Development of a new physical activity strategy.
These measures are welcome steps forward in improving our food and drink environment and enabling people to be more physically active.
We hope the forthcoming National Food Strategy will drive deeper systemic changes to ensure affordable, accessible healthy food for everyone in England.
Critical missed opportunities
On alcohol, the Plan falls short of prioritising the range of evidence-based policies proven to reduce alcohol consumption, which causes around 17,000 UK cancer diagnoses each year.
Notably, it fails to include minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol in England, despite the success of MUP in reducing alcohol-related deaths in Scotland and Wales. Worryingly, England continues to lag the devolved nations on this crucial policy.
The Plan also makes no mention of strengthening marketing restrictions on alcohol, and so enables industry to continue to normalise drinking as an aspirational lifestyle choice.
Given the rising number of alcohol-related deaths each year, we are urging the UK government to deliver a National Alcohol Strategy for England. As outlined in our recent letter to the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, during Cancer Prevention Action Week, we continue to call for bold action on alcohol-related cancer.
Equally disappointing is the absence of action to strengthen protections and support for breastfeeding and infant feeding. There are no new mandatory, independently enforced regulations on the composition, marketing and labelling of baby and toddler foods. This is a missed opportunity, particularly in light of the UK government’s stated goal to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.
We will continue to urge the government to adopt the recommendations of the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study on infant and follow-on formula.
Turning ambitions into action
This Plan arrives as Labour marks its first year in government under Starmer. This government now has the opportunity – and responsibility – to turn its prevention agenda into lasting structural change that improves the nation’s health.
The upcoming National Cancer Plan for England presents a further chance to address modifiable risk factors and fill the gaps left by the 10-year Health Plan.
We welcome the Prime Minister’s willingness to challenge accusations of “nanny statism” and urge the government to ensure all health strategies are protected from undue industry influence.
We want prevention to be the foundation of all health strategies. We stand ready to bring our scientific and policy expertise to the table – and we’re calling on the UK government to work with us to turn bold ambition into real change, helping millions live longer, cancer-free lives.
In our resource library
Further reading
We’re excited to announce that World Cancer Research Fund has joined Our Future Health, the UK’s largest health research programme, as an affiliate partner.
With cancer rates rising and modifiable factors contributing to around 40% of all cases, the partnership represents a bold step in harnessing large-scale health data and decades of scientific insight to prevent more cancers before they start.
The UK Director at World Cancer Research Fund, Steven Greenberg, said:
“It’s tremendously exciting to be a part of the UK’s largest, most diverse health research programme. We know that 40% of cancers can be prevented through modifiable factors such as diet and exercise. With a growing rate of diagnoses, collaboration to better understand these risks is more important and timelier than ever.
“By working together, we’ll be able to combine our own extensive knowledge and experience on cancer prevention with the knowledge and insight coming from Our Future Health to further understand how cancer risk can be affected by diet and lifestyle.
As an affiliate partner, we’ll contribute our global expertise in the links between diet, weight, physical activity and cancer risk, helping guide Our Future Health’s work in identifying preventable risk factors. In turn, we’ll benefit from collaborating with the UK’s largest health research programme – enabling new insights into early detection and public health strategies.”
About Our Future Health
Our Future Health is the UK’s largest ever health research programme. It is designed to help people live healthier lives for longer through the discovery and testing of more effective approaches to prevention, earlier detection and treatment of diseases. Our Future Health is inviting millions of people, from all backgrounds and from across the UK, to take part. Volunteers are providing information about their health and lifestyles to create an incredibly detailed picture that represents the whole of the UK.
Dr Raghib Ali, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Our Future Health, said:
“We’re so pleased to welcome World Cancer Research Fund as our newest affiliate charity partner. We know that cancer will affect half of us in our lifetimes, and together we want to improve cancer prevention, so more people can live longer, healthier lives. Their expertise in funding life-saving research will be really valuable for Our Future Health.”
Latest news and blogs
As part of Cancer Prevention Action Week 2025, on Wednesday we handed in an open letter and petition, alongside breast cancer survivors Dr Liz O’Riordan and Nikki Bednall, and the Alcohol Health Alliance.
The letter (below) – signed by more than 25 organisations and health experts – and the petition called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his government to introduce a National Alcohol Strategy to Prevent Cancer, as part of our Cancer Prevention Action Week (CPAW) activity.
This year, CPAW is highlighting the links between alcohol and cancer – our research shows that most people don’t know that drinking any amount of alcohol increases the risk of 7 types of cancer.
What’s more, around 17,000 new cases every year are down to alcohol – so we’re urging the UK government to introduce a long-overdue National Alcohol Strategy for England – one that tackles alcohol harm head-on through:
- mandatory health warnings highlighting cancer risk
- minimum unit pricing
- marketing restrictions
to reduce consumption, lower cancer risk, and protect lives.
Read the full letter below
The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA
CC: The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Ashley Dalton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention
25 June 2025
The UK government must act on alcohol now to prevent cancer
Dear Prime Minister,
On behalf of more than 20 organisations and public health leaders, we are writing to share our deep concern about the continued lack of action to reduce alcohol consumption across the United Kingdom. In particular, the absence of a National Alcohol Strategy for England stands in stark contrast to the scale of harm caused by alcohol, with alcohol-specific deaths having increased by 42% in England between 2019 and 2023 alone.
This week marks Cancer Prevention Action Week (CPAW) – a national campaign led by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) – which seeks to empower the public and inspire change to prevent cancer. This year, CPAW is shining a spotlight on the link between alcohol and cancer, and the urgent need for government action.
In the UK, alcohol causes around 17,000 cases of cancer every year – equivalent to 46 people receiving a diagnosis every single day. And as our population ages and grows, these numbers are projected to rise. Worryingly, the pandemic has also driven an increase in high-risk drinking. Modelling by the Institute of Alcohol Studies and Health Lumen suggests that if this trend persists, we could see an additional 18,785 cancer cases by 2035.
Public awareness remains alarmingly low that alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen, the same category as tobacco and asbestos, and a cause of seven types of cancer, including two of the most common breast and bowel as well as mouth and throat, oesophageal, liver and stomach cancer. These risks are present even at low levels of consumption. New polling commissioned by WCRF reveals that when asked unprompted only 1 in 14 UK adults are aware that alcohol increases cancer risk and 25% believe there is no health risk attached to drinking alcohol.
We are not alone in our concern – thousands of members of the public including more than 20 organisations have signed our petition calling for greater government action. They agree that no one should have to suffer the devastating trauma of alcohol-related cancer.
The human toll is compounded by the economic burden. In 2016, Cancer Research UK estimated that alcohol-attributed cancers cost the NHS alone an estimated £100 million annually. With the health service under immense strain, it is imperative to act now and realise the government’s priority of prevention.
Despite alcohol being the sixth leading cause of preventable cancer in the UK, current policy does not reflect this reality. We urge the government to fulfil its responsibility to protect public health by introducing a National Alcohol Strategy for England without delay, which must include:
- Mandatory alcohol product labelling with health warnings, including information on cancer risks and calorie content.
- Marketing restrictions on alcohol by classifying it as an ‘unhealthy product’ under high fat, salt and sugar marketing restrictions.
- Implementing and evaluating minimum unit pricing at 65p in England with rates adjusted in line with inflation, to bring England into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who all either have MUP already or have stated their intention to implement.
It is vital that this strategy aligns with the forthcoming National Cancer Plan for England, ensuring that alcohol is comprehensively addressed as a modifiable risk factor for cancer. We also urge the UK government to work in close collaboration with the devolved administrations, particularly to enable action to improve approaches to labelling and advertising. All policy development processes must be protected from industry influence and vested interests to ensure public health is placed above profit.
Such action would not only help to reduce cancer risks but reduce other alcohol-related harms. It would also support the government’s own ambitions to shift from sickness to prevention, as set out in the Health Mission, and contribute to economic growth by reducing illness-related inactivity.
We stand ready to support this effort and urge you to act now. Together we can tackle the devastating impact of both alcohol harm and cancer.
Yours sincerely,
Rachael Gormley, Chief Executive, World Cancer Research Fund
Dr Richard Piper, CEO, Alcohol Change UK
Alison Douglas, Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair, Alcohol Health Alliance
Greg Fell, President, Association of Directors of Public Health
Dr Heather Grimbaldeston, Chair, BMA Public Health Medicine Committee, British Medical Association
Professor David Strain, Chair, BMA Board of Science, British Medical Association
Thalie Martini, Chief Executive Officer, Breast Cancer UK
Eddie Crouch, Chair, British Dental Association
Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust
Jill Clark, Chair, CancerWatch
Alison Wise, Communications Manager, on behalf of Fight Bladder Cancer
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director, Fresh and Balance
Kostas Tsilidis, Associate Professor of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Imperial College London
Dr Katherine Severi, Chief Executive, Institute of Alcohol Studies
Dr Dominique Florin, Medical Director, Medical Council on Alcohol
Daniela Binnington Nessman, Founder, Menopause and Cancer
Gopika Chandratheva, Nutritionist, NHS
Tamara Khan, CEO, Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK
Jon Coleman-Reed, Head of Operations, Prevent Breast Cancer
Dr Claire Shannon, President, Royal College of Anaesthetists
Robert Steele, Chair, Board Directors, Scottish Cancer Foundation
Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, Chair, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems
Chris Curtis, Chief Executive Officer, Swallows Head & Neck Cancer Support Charity
Amandine Garde, Professor of Law & Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, University of Liverpool
Richard Cooke, Professor of Health Psychology, University of Staffordshire
Dr Kathryn Scott, Chief Executive, Yorkshire Cancer Research
More CPAW news and blogs
Only 16% of us in the UK feel at ease discussing our relationship with alcohol, ranking it among the least talked about topics – less so than sex (17%) and money (29%), according to our poll.
We’re emphasising the connection between alcohol and cancer as part of Cancer Prevention Action Week, which starts today. We have strong evidence that alcohol increases the risk of 7 cancers:
- Breast
- Bowel
- Head and neck
- Oesophageal
- Liver
- Stomach
Alcoholic drinks are also high in calories and often high in sugar, increasing the risk of gaining weight. Living with overweight or obesity increases the risk of at least 13 types of cancer.
We surveyed 2,000 people to gain insights into Britain’s understanding of alcohol and cancer risks. The findings reveal consistent misconceptions regarding alcohol’s dangers. Alarmingly, 25% of respondents did not associate any health risks with alcohol, and only 1 in 14 mentioned cancers as a risk when asked unprompted.
These misconceptions may hinder our ability to have informed conversations about alcohol. About 4% of cancer cases in the UK are attributed to alcohol, meaning that, each year, around 17,000 people are diagnosed with cancer caused by alcohol. Adding to this immeasurable human cost is the economic burden. Alcohol-related cancers cost the NHS around £100m every year.
We need a National Alcohol Strategy
We support clearer public health messaging to raise awareness of the real dangers of alcohol consumption, as well as other measures such as health warning labels. Alongside many other health organisations in the UK, we’re urging the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, to implement a National Alcohol Strategy for England.
World Cancer Research Fund CEO Rachael Gormley
Alcohol is pervasive in our lives, from celebrations to after-work drinks. But do we truly understand the risks involved? It’s essential that we engage in more discussions about alcohol and cancer, empowering individuals to make informed health choices.
Alcohol Health Alliance Chair Sir Ian Gilmore
One of the reasons public awareness is so low is that we're being kept in the dark about the true cost of drinking. People have the right to know the full picture so that they can make informed choices about what they consume.
World Cancer Research Fund Executive Director of Research and Policy Dr Giota Mitrou
A long-overdue National Alcohol Strategy in England would help the government tackle alcohol harm head on – reducing consumption, lowering cancer risk, and protecting lives.
Nikki Bednall is a World Cancer Research Fund Supporter and breast cancer survivor. She said: “I always thought drinking a few times a week was fine. I never knew it could raise my cancer risk. If I’d known earlier, I might have made different choices. Though hindsight is easy, my perspective has changed with the knowledge that came after my diagnosis.”
Drinking habits in the UK paint a concerning picture in comparison with other nations. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 2021 data showed that alcohol consumption in the UK was 10 litres per capita – 16% more than the OECD average of 8.6 litres.
Covid led to an increase in the number of high-risk drinks, with the heaviest drinkers increasing their consumption the most. These changes have persisted beyond the national lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, and subsequently there has been a year-on-year rise in alcohol-specific deaths, which reached an all-time high of 10,473 in 2023.
The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative UK adults. The data was collected between 21.03.2025–24.03.2025.
Cancer Prevention Action Week (CPAW)
This year we’re highlighting the links between alcohol and cancer.
Alcohol and cancer: let’s talk – that was the theme of this year’s Cancer Prevention Action Week. For 7 days on 23–29 June, we talked to politicians, gave radio interviews and spoke to experts about alcohol and cancer. Plus, we shared news and views across our socials:
Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Bluesky
How Cancer Prevention Action Week unfolded
Monday’s highlights
> Brits find it harder to talk about alcohol than sex or money
Yorkshire GP speaks out in support of CPAW:
Dr Nigel Wells, Medical Director and Executive Director Clinical & Care Professional Humber and North Yorkshire ICB and practising GP:
As a GP, I know people can be reluctant to talk about alcohol or share concerns about their drinking – so it doesn’t surprise me that only 2 in 10 people across Yorkshire and the Humber feel comfortable doing so.
But alcohol isn’t harmless – it increases the risk of 7 types of cancer, and, too often, people simply aren’t aware. If this campaign helps someone pause and ask whether alcohol might be affecting their health, and encourages them to speak to a healthcare professional, it will have made a real difference. We need to make these conversations as routine as those about smoking or diet – and that starts with creating a safe, non-judgemental space in every consultation.
We tabled an Early Day Motion in support of Cancer Prevention Action Week. And Alcohol Focus Scotland, a key supporter of this year’s campaign, tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament on alcohol and cancer.
Tuesday’s highlights
Alcohol Focus Scotland organised a photo call at Holyrood with Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Photographed are 11 MSPs, including the Cabinet Secretary for Health Neil Gray; Jackie Baillie, Labour’s deputy leader and health spokesperson, and Presiding officer Alison Johnstone. Read more on LinkedIn
Sheridan Dixon, of South Tyneside, was interviewed on ITV Tyne Tees about how she has reduced her drinking as part of efforts to stay cancer free. We’re grateful to our partner Balance North East for helping us share Sheridan’s story.
Wednesday’s highlights
We headed to No 10 Downing St to present our petition to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Prof Lord John Krebs, Chair of our Global Cancer Update Programme, tabled questions in the Lords on the links between alcohol and cancer, keeping the issue high on the political agenda:
Lord Krebs’ questions to the Lords
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1
Lord Krebs to ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce alcohol consumption as a modifiable risk factor for cancer.
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2
Lord Krebs to ask His Majesty’s Government whether the national cancer plan for England will address alcohol consumption as a modifiable risk factor for cancer.
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3
Lord Krebs to ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of public awareness levels of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.
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4
Lord Krebs to ask His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to classifying alcohol as an unhealthy product under high fat, sugar and salt marketing restrictions to (1) strengthen limits on alcohol advertising, and (2) reduce alcohol exposure among vulnerable populations, including children and adolescents.
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5
Lord Krebs to ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of minimum unit pricing on alcohol-related cancer incidence.
CPAW supporter Prof Richard Cooke published research showing that policymakers and drinkers are speaking different languages when it comes to alcohol consumption. He says: “Policymakers need to construct policies to reflect the importance of emotions in drinkers’ narratives. This fits in with psychological theories of drinking behaviour which propose that people drink for different reasons.”
> The language of alcohol: Similarities and differences in how drinkers and policymakers frame alcohol consumption, published in Drug and Alcohol Review
Thursday’s highlights
Health professionals can be instrumental in helping individuals reset their relationship with alcohol and we supported them with a free webinar on Alcohol and cancer risk: What every health professional needs to know.
In the This Is Powerful podcast, Paul Sculfor talked to nutrition expert Dr Federica Amati about alcohol and cancer.
Friday’s highlights
On the blog: It’s mocktail Friday! Start your weekend early with some fizzy fruity creations
Saturday and Sunday’s highlights
Time to take a breath … alcohol is a major part of how many of us socialise, relax and celebrate. But nearly 4% of cancer cases in the UK are down to alcohol – around 17,000 new cases every year.
We hope this Cancer Prevention Action Week has given you an insight into the risks we’re all taking when we drink.
Our research shows that most people don’t know that drinking any amount of alcohol increases the risk of 7 types of cancer.
What happens next?
Cancer Prevention Action Week is just the start. We want to spark an ongoing national debate: with friends, family – and within government – about alcohol and cancer so that everyone can make more informed choices about their health.
But the UK government has said it won’t include mandatory comprehensive restrictions on alcohol marketing in its 10-year Health Plan – despite these being a proven, cost-effective way to reduce alcohol harm.
This is hugely disappointing. Contact the Prime Minister to make it clear that public health must be protected – and that cancer prevention cannot be sidelined.
On the blog
Media coverage
Cancer Prevention Action Week is across the news this week!
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BBC Radio
Our Senior Policy Advisor, Kendra Chow, was invited to talk about this year’s campaign on BBC 5 Live on Saturday night. The interview was repeated across 5 Live and 43 other BBC radio stations.
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Channel 5
Vanessa Feltz’s lunchtime show covered alcohol health warnings in a lengthy discussion including an interview with our supporter Dr Philippa Kaye.
Also on Channel 5, Jeremy Vine’s show discussed Alcohol labels should warn of cancer risk, urge health groups (The Times) in a round-up of the morning papers.
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The Guardian
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The Independent
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The Times
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The Telegraph
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Julia Bradbury on Instagram
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Scotland
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International
- Mirage News (Australia)
- The Times of India
- Yahoo New Zealand
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Science press
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Trade press
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Local press
- Rayo (Coventry and Nuneaton)
- This Is Wiltshire
- The Gazette and Herald
- Swindon Advertiser
- The Birmingham Mail
Facts at your fingertips
Written by experts, based on the evidence: our health resources unmuddle the myths about alcohol and cancer.
The government of the Republic of Ireland must ensure that the planned introduction of alcohol health labels, in May 2026, which are mandated under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, come into force without delay.
Dr Giota Mitrou, our Executive Director of Research and Policy, has written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, in support of Ireland’s forthcoming mandatory health warnings labels on alcohol.
We are calling on the Irish government to stand firm on alcohol labelling in the face of misleading representations from the alcohol industry, and resist outside influence. Doing so, Dr Mitrou writes, will solidify Ireland’s record as a world leader on public health and set a much-needed example for other governments across the globe.
Health labels on alcohol crucial to preventing cancer
From 2026, all alcohol products sold in the Republic of Ireland will be required to state: “There is a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers”. This measure makes Ireland the first country in the world to mandate a warning linking any level of alcohol consumption to cancer.
Yet Ireland is facing resistance to these measures from the alcohol industry in Ireland and worldwide.
Drinking any type of alcohol increases your risk of 7 different types of cancer, and our evidence shows that there is no safe level of drinking.
For Cancer Prevention Action Week 2025, on 23–29 June, we’re highlighting the links between alcohol and cancer and encouraging an open conversation about alcohol’s many harms.
> On the blog: How Ireland beat the odds to introduce cancer warning labels on alcohol
Dr Giota Mitrou
We strongly support alcohol health warning labels. This is not only an evidenced-based policy but also has immense public backing in Ireland, with 70% of those polled supportive of the measure. Crucially, the provision marks a significant step towards the Irish Government fulfilling their duty to protect the public from alcohol harm and reduce preventable cancers.
More on alcohol risks
World Cancer Research Fund has responded to the UK government’s first multi-year spending review, where the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, set out departmental budgets over the next 3 years.
Under their Health Mission, the government has committed to shifting from sickness to prevention, affirming that prevention is better than cure. This spending review marks a critical opportunity for the government to set out their investment to this commitment.
In this review, the Chancellor committed:
- £29bn for the day-to-day spending of the NHS to 2028–29.
- £80m per year for tobacco cessation programmes and to support the delivery of the Tobacco & Vapes Bill.
- £10bn in NHS technology and digital transformation by 2028–29.
- £22.6bn per year for research and development by 2029–30, including medical research.
Responding to the spending review, World Cancer Research Fund’s Executive Director of Research and Policy, Dr Giota Mitrou, said:
Today the Chancellor reaffirmed Labour’s Health Mission, including their commitment to shift from treatment to prevention. 40% of all cancer cases are preventable: as leading experts in cancer prevention, we know that primary prevention remains the most sustainable and cost-effective way to tackle cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
For example, while we are glad to see that the government will be investing £80m per year to tackle tobacco, we need to see similar efforts applied to obesity and alcohol. The expansion of free school meals is a step in the right direction and the type of action we hope to see in the upcoming 10-year Health Plan.”
Research funded by World Cancer Research Fund has shown that people living with cancer who closely follow a sustainable and nutritious diet – the EAT-Lancet reference diet – have a lower risk of dying from cancer and from all causes.
This is the first study to look at the impact of the EAT-Lancet diet on people living with or beyond cancer – as opposed to the general population. Prof Sabine Rohrmann and her team at the University of Zurich, in collaboration with colleagues from another Swiss university, the UK and Austria, used UK Biobank data to see if closely following this diet – with its emphasis on eating a rich variety of plant foods – affected the risk of death for people with a cancer diagnosis at the time they were recruited for the study.
Studying more than 25,000 people with an average age of 60 years at recruitment, the researchers used dietary information collected in the UK Biobank to develop a score that reflected how closely participants followed the EAT-Lancet diet.
More support needed for people facing cancer
Of the 25,348 cancer survivors in the group studied, 4,781 people died during the study follow-up. Prof Rohrmann’s results showed modest links between closely following the diet and a lower risk of dying from cancer, and of dying from all causes. The researchers didn’t observe a link between the diet and dying from heart disease.
Almost 64% of the participants were female, and participants who followed the EAT-Lancet diet more closely were more likely to be female. However, this study confirmed previous evidence showing that people living with and beyond cancer do not tend to follow healthy diets after their diagnosis. This emphasises the need to help people form healthier habits and overcome the barriers to eating well, such as treatment side-effects affecting appetite and taste.
These findings highlight the importance of greater nutrition support and guidance for people facing cancer. Guidelines aimed at the general population are unlikely to consider the needs of people living with and beyond cancer. With a lack of evidence-based recommendations for this population, the gap can sometimes be filled by practices not supported by the science – such as excessive use of dietary supplements.
This evidence showing the benefits of the EAT-Lancet diet follows recent research by our Global Cancer Update Programme, which provided guidance for people with a breast or a bowel cancer diagnosis.
Prof Sabine Rohrmann
We specifically put the focus of our study on cancer survivors because we believe that it is important to encourage them to follow a healthy lifestyle. For this, we need more evidence and so far, research on lifestyle changes in cancer survivors is still scarce.
Dr Julia Panina, Head of Research Funding
This study provides important new evidence that following the EAT-Lancet reference diet may reduce the risk of mortality in people living with and beyond cancer. The focus on the consumption of plant-based foods reflects our Cancer Prevention Recommendations to eat more wholegrains, vegetables, fruit and beans, and to limit red and processed meat. Importantly, these findings also show that diets supporting cancer survivorship can promote more sustainable eating and help protect the environment.
The EAT-Lancet reference diet was created by a team of scientists (The EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health) in 2019. It is a mainly plant-based diet that, according to the Commission, addresses the environmental impact of food production and consumption better than most national dietary guidelines.
> Read the paper: Higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet reference diet is inversely associated with mortality in a UK population of cancer survivors
> On the blog: Plant-based diets: eating for our health and the planet