There's abundant advice out there on what you should or shouldn't eat, drink, swallow, or stand next to, to avoid cancer. But it's often lacking in evidence and the jumble of messages can be confusing.
This body map brings together the evidence on proven cancer causes. Using credible, scientific sources it answers questions about whether alcohol, red meat or sun exposure increase your cancer risk.
Cancer occurs when mutations in a cell's DNA cause it to replicate without control, invading other tissues. Some cancer-causing mutations can be inherited; others induced, by infection with bacteria or viruses; or by environmental factors such as smoking, sun exposure and eating red meat.
This map's focus is on induced factors. They are considered "modifiable" because avoiding them lessens your chance of cancer.
Choose your gender and click a risk factor to see which body area can be affected. Clicking the body region will show you how much engaging in risks such as drinking alcohol, taking the contraceptive pill, or eating pickled vegetables, will increase your chance of certain cancers.
