European Code Against Cancer 5th edition: 14 ways you can help prevent cancer
Carolina Espina, David Ritchie, Elio Riboli, Hans Kromhout, Silvia Franceschi, Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, Theresa M. Marteau, Ioanna Bakogianni, Nadia Vilahur, Catherina J. Alberts, Urska Ivanus, Ariadna Feliu, Erica D'Souza, Hajo Zeeb, Giota Mitrou, Tit Albreht, Joakim Dillner, Jérôme Foucaud, Marta Mańczuk, Jose María Martin-Moreno, René H. Medema, Deirdre Murray, Peter Nagy, Florian Nicula, Mary Nyangasi, Karen Steindorf, Anne Tjønneland, Michele Cecchini, Marilys Corbex, Magdalena Stępień, Wendy Yared, André L. Carvalho, Joachim Schüz, Elio Riboli, Ioanna Bakogianni, Sherry Morris, Annie S. Anderson, Linda Bauld, Esteve Fernandes, Michael Leitzmann, Bernard Srour, Ioana Vlad, Constantine Vardavas, Sabine Vuik, Matty P. Weijenberg, Hans Kromhout, Nadia Vilahur, Sylvia Jochems, M Albin, Isabelle Baldi, Dario Consonni, Quentin Crowley, Béatrice Fervers, Rüdiger Greinert, Gerard Hoek, Martin Röösli, Martie van Tongeren, Silvia Franceschi, Nienke Alberts, Paul J. N. Bloem, Sophie Grabar, M ̄arcis Leja, Peter Malfertheiner, Mojca Matičič, Francis Mégraud, Francisco Molina Negro, Martyn Plummer, Maarten Schim van der Loeff, Silvia de Sanjosé, Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, Urska Ivanus, Esther Toes-Zoutendijk, Marc Arbyn, Anssi Auvinen, David S. Baldwin, X. Castells, Andrea De Censi, Solveig Hofvind, Carlo Senore, Mangesh S. Thorat, Carlijn van der Aalst, Theresa M. Marteau, Eleni Mantzari, Alina Bârgăoanu, Kathelijne Bessems, Janne Bigaard, Kate Brain, Cristiana Fonseca, Ulrike Helbig, Paweł Koczkodaj, Dafina Petrova, Violaine Roggeri, Milka Sokolović
Abstract
Despite the growing cancer burden in the European Union, public awareness of effective prevention is low. In response, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan has supported the development of the 5th edition of the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC5). Using a transparent, stepwise decision-making process, around 80 experts reviewed the latest scientific evidence on cancer prevention and used modern communication strategies to update the previous edition. An innovation in ECAC5 is the inclusion of population-level recommendations, aiming to structurally influence the systems that shape individual choices and improve environmental conditions to which all citizens are involuntarily exposed. ECAC5 includes 14 actionable, evidence-based recommendations for individuals to reduce their cancer risk alongside their respective policy recommendations. All are presented through equity lens, with attention to co-benefits for preventing other non-communicable diseases and tailoring messages to diverse audiences. Clear evidence-based statements on cancer risks factors and effective preventive interventions will empower citizens to make healthier choices, call policymakers to act, foster public support for effective policies, and contribute to more effective cancer prevention.