Jan Fouad and Pranoti Mandrekar Discuss Rising Cancer Rates and Roles of Alcohol, Environment, and Lifestyle in UMass Chan News Article

By DoM Communications  | Date printed: December 1, 2025

Jan Fouad and Pranoti Mandrekar Discuss Rising Cancer Rates and Roles of Alcohol, Environment, and Lifestyle in UMass Chan News Article 

According to a brand new evaluation printed in The Lancet by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Global Burden of Disease Cancer Collaborators, worldwide most cancers circumstances are on the rise, having doubled from about 9 million in 1990 to 18.5 million in 2023. In a current article in UMass Chan News, Jan Fouad, MD, assistant professor of drugs within the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, and Pranoti Mandrekar, PhD, professor of drugs within the Division of Gastroenterology, clarify that though inhabitants progress and growing older stay key contributors, way of life and environmental exposures have gotten extra influential.  

“Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, but the underlying risks are shifting,” stated Dr. Fouad. “Notable emerging risk factors include pollution found in ambient air, especially PM 2.5 fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, secondhand smoke, and prior chest radiotherapy. There have also been some links made to things like high fasting plasma sugar levels.” Dr. Fouad encourages people to bear lung most cancers screenings, which might result in early detection and permit for prognosis.  

According to Dr. Mandrekar, alcohol is a major and sometimes underestimated most cancers threat issue. “Studies show alcohol ranks among the top preventable cancer causes,” stated Dr. Mandrekar. “The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that even low amounts of alcohol, less than a single drink a day, increase cancer risk. Yet fewer than 50 percent of Americans are aware that alcohol is a cancer risk. Most people still associate it only with liver disease.” In addressing prevention, Dr. Mandrekar explains that elevated consciousness and coverage change are required. “Increasing education about alcohol and cancer risk, along with stronger public-health policies, is key,” she stated. “The U.S. Surgeon General’s recommendation for health warning labels linking alcohol consumption to cancer risk is an excellent example of how we can inform the public.”  

Read the total story in UMass Chan News.