Founded in 1997, the Cancer Prevention Unit of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is tasked with making a tangible contribution to reducing avoidable cancer risk factors.
Almost 40 percent of all new cancer cases are caused by preventable cancer risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, an unhealthy diet, obesity, lack of exercise and infections, for example with human papillomaviruses (HPV). All of these cancers are potentially preventable, as most of these risk factors could be avoided through lifestyle changes.
The most important risk factor for cancer is smoking - almost 20 percent of all new cancer cases are a result of smoking. Due to the particularly high potential for prevention, the focus of the Cancer Prevention Unit's work has long been on reducing tobacco use. The aim is to help reduce the individual and social damage caused by smoking.
For some years now, the reduction of other cancer risk factors has also increasingly been part of the remit of the Cancer Prevention Unit. For example, one important goal is to promote HPV vaccination in order to achieve the World Health Organization's (WHO) target of vaccinating 90% of 15-year-old girls against HPV by 2030 and thus ultimately eliminate HPV-related cancers.
In addition, the Cancer Prevention Unit aims to raise awareness of the health risks of alcohol consumption - particularly its carcinogenic effects - and ultimately contribute to a reduction in alcohol consumption. The Cancer Prevention Unit is also active in the areas of obesity prevention and the promotion of physical activity.
