If people stopped smoking, 30 percent of cancers would disappear

Cancer remains one of the most concerning diseases—and for good reason. In Spain alone, it claims 120,000 lives annually. Pharmaceutical companies continue to prioritize cancer research, as evidenced by the fact that half of all clinical trials worldwide are focused on combating this disease.

Dr. Fernando Rivera, Head of Medical Oncology at Valdecilla Hospital (Santander, Spain), provides an overview of the current landscape:

“Right now, 55 percent of cancers are curable, and that figure keeps rising—slowly but steadily. Recent data suggest we’re approaching nearly 60 percent. To reduce the remaining 40-45 percent, several steps are needed. First, prevention could eliminate many cancers entirely. For instance, if people stopped smoking, 30 percent of cancers would not exist. Early diagnosis and screening are also critical. Take colorectal cancer screening: if fully implemented, it’s estimated that 30 percent of deaths from this cancer could be prevented. The same applies to cervical cancer with Pap smears or breast cancer with mammograms—yet not all women get these tests.”

“Diagnosing cancer early is vital. When a tumor is still localized, treatments are typically less aggressive and far more effective. For these localized tumors, we’ve made significant strides in locoregional treatments like surgery (including robotic techniques) and radiotherapy (with advances in conventional methods, intraoperative radiation, and proton therapy). Additionally, drug therapies are now often used alongside surgery or radiation to eliminate unseen tumor cells that could later cause relapses.”

“Unfortunately, in many cases, cancer is diagnosed after it has spread, leading to metastases. Other times, tumors initially treated as localized recur and metastasize over time. In the vast majority of the 45 percent of cancers we can’t yet cure, metastases are the primary reason.”

“To improve outcomes for patients with advanced, metastatic cancer, locoregional treatments offer little help. Here, the key lies in developing new antitumor drugs. These medications travel through the bloodstream, reaching every part of the body and targeting metastases—regardless of their number or location.”

Source: Interview with Dr. Fernando Rivera by the Cantabria College of Physicians

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