Everyday habits that may lead to cancer
These seemingly harmless behaviors may raise your odds of developing several different types of the disease.
Jan, 2026
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While healthy eating and quitting smoking are critical to good health, they aren’t the only lifestyle habits that matter. There are many seemingly harmless things you may do every day that could affect your well-being—and increase your risk for cancer.
Here are a few habits you may want to work on, plus tips on how to make changes.
Written byBeth Ward.
Medically reviewed byMark Arredondo, MD.
Sources: Lynch BM. Sedentary behavior and cancer: a systematic review of the literature and proposed biological mechanisms. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010 Nov;19(11):2691-709. + 9
- Lynch BM. Sedentary behavior and cancer: a systematic review of the literature and proposed biological mechanisms. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010 Nov;19(11):2691-709.
- Ihira H, Sawada N, et al. Occupational sitting time and subsequent risk of cancer: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. Cancer Sci. 2020 Mar;111(3):974-984.
- Hermelink R, Leitzmann MF, et al. Sedentary behavior and cancer-an umbrella review and meta-analysis. Eur J Epidemiol. 2022 May;37(5):447-460.
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 2018.
- Mayo Clinic. Stress Relievers: Tips to Tame Stress. August 3, 2023.
- Cancer Research UK. Sugar and Cancer – What You Need to Know. August 16, 2023.
- American Institute for Cancer Research. The Sugar and Cancer Connection. January 7, 2016.
- Epner M, Yang P, et al. Understanding the Link between Sugar and Cancer: An Examination of the Preclinical and Clinical Evidence. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Dec 8;14(24):6042.
- Anil A, Raheja R, et al. Uncovering the Links Between Dietary Sugar and Cancer: A Narrative Review Exploring the Impact of Dietary Sugar and Fasting on Cancer Risk and Prevention. Cureus. 2024 Aug 21;16(8):e67434.
- American Heart Association. How Much Sugar Is Too Much? September 23, 2024.
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