Making small lifestyle could dramatically reduce people's the risk of cancer, according to new research.
Scientists found that four in 10 cancers could be prevented if people change their daily habits, with smoking, obesity, diet and alcohol the main contributors to the disease.
The findings by Cancer Research UK, which are based on 2010 figures, said that around 134,000 cancers diagnosed in Britain last year were attributable to lifestyle and environmental factors.
The study, which analysed hundreds of cases, calculated that 40% of cancers in men and 45% in women could have been averted, with smoking the biggest contributor, responsibly for an estimated 61,000 diagnoses.
Poor diet is also a major contributor, with a lack of fruit and vegetables, as well as too much salt and red meat responsible for around 30,000 cases each year. According to the study, weight caused 17,000 cases a year, with bowel cancer the main type arising from obesity.
Alcohol led to 12,500 cases a year, particularly breast, mouth, throat and bowel cancers. Other contributing factors include sun exposure, occupational hazards, infections, hormone replacement therapy and not breast-feeding.
The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, is likely to increase pressure on the government to do more to tackle the problems of obesity, binge drinking and smoking.
"If we could prevent 134,000 cancers every year this would lead to enormous savings in health costs, so there is a credible case to be made for more resources in prevention," said Dr Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK.
Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians, called the figures were a “wake-up call to the government”.
“The rising incidence of preventable cancers shows that the 'carrot' approach of voluntary agreements with industry is not enough to prompt healthy behaviours, and needs to be replaced by the 'stick' approach of legislative solutions, which includes increasing the price and reducing the availability of alcohol," he said.
Speaking to Sky News, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, said: "What Cancer Research UK have quite rightly drawn attention to is that many cancers are preventable. For example, if people simply quit smoking - that is the largest and entirely preventable cause of cancers.”
Lansley said that the study is not a reflection on the quality of care being provided to cancer patients in the NHS.