Eat healthy, stay active, and quit smoking. These time-honored prescriptions for a cancer-free life were given their latest endorsement at a recent seminar in Beijing.

A team of 21 internationally renowned experts have compared and evaluated the results of 7,000 relevant studies, and drawn from them 10 recommendations for preventing the disease. They have compiled their findings into a report titled Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective.

"The report provides convincing evidence that most cancers are preventable," says Chen Junshi, a member of the expert panel. The report was first published by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) in English and its Chinese version, released at the seminar, is the only full report published in another language.

The report's recommendations include cutting down on high-calorie carbohydrates and meats, drinking little or no alcohol, avoiding poorly preserved foods, not relying on nutritional supplements, and breastfeeding.

"The publication of the Chinese version comes at the right time," says Chen. Cancer ranks as the number one cause of death among Chinese urban residents below the age of 65, according to the WCRF. The deadliest cancers are those of the lungs, liver, stomach, oesophagus, colon and rectum, based on the number of deaths.

The report also says that in 2002, 2.2 million Chinese were afflicted with cancer, of whom 1.6 million died. It is estimated that by 2020, the number of new cancer patients will exceed 4 million.

"The Chinese people's lifestyle is changing rapidly," says Chen. "They are eating less fiber and more fat - and more people are obese or overweight as a result."

It is estimated that by 2020, around 60 percent of Chinese people will be found wanting in physical exercise; by 2015, 10 percent of Chinese people will be obese, according to the report.

"Obesity is prevalent in the UK and the US. But the good news is, the risk can still be avoided in China," says Martin Wiseman, project director of the WCRF/AICR Expert Report, from the UK. "What is important is that we want to spread the word to the world that people can choose a lifestyle to lower their risk of cancer."

The 10 recommendations of the report have not only been included in the 2007 Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residence, but been a major source of reference in developing an action plan for cancer control in China. They also form the basis of the "healthy lifestyle campaign" launched by the Ministry of Health last year.

(China Daily October 22, 2008)