Reducing the risk of cancer
20. Reducing smoking Smoking is the biggest single preventable risk factor for cancer. And it disproportionately affects those already disadvantaged by poverty.
That is why the NHS Cancer Plan sets out new national and local targets to address inequalities, backed by new programmes of targeted action, building on new and effective interventions to help people who want to stop smoking.
21. A healthier diet It is less well known that a poor diet is the second largest risk factor for cancer. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is the second most effective strategy to reduce the risk of cancer, after reducing smoking. People who don't eat fruit and vegetables regularly are at greater risk of getting several common cancers. Children's consumption of fruit and vegetables is particularly low, and children in disadvantaged families are 50% less likely to eat fruit and vegetables than those in high income families.
22. Two new initiatives were announced in the NHS Plan:
- the national
"five-a-day"
programme will support initiatives to improve access to fruit and vegetables - the National School Fruit Scheme will make a free piece of fruit available to school children aged from four to six years old, each school day.
23. Action to tackle smoking and poor diet will only be effective if the underlying causes are also tackled. Poverty, unemployment and other broader causes of ill health are linked to cancer too, and action across government to tackle health inequalities will in time have an impact on cancer.
