Cancer places a growing burden on Europe. Four people are diagnosed with cancer every minute across the EU27+2, leading to suffering, high healthcare cost and lower productivity. Prevention offers a highly effective and affordable means to reduce this burden. The 5th edition of the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC 5) offers clear, evidence-based guidance for individuals to reduce their cancer risk, supported by policies that make healthy choices easier. This policy brief shows that action on smoking, harmful alcohol use, obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity, and air pollution can deliver major health and economic gains. OECD analyses find that achieving the best risk-factor levels seen in Europe could prevent about 300 000 cancer cases annually, save EUR 61 billion a year in healthcare expenditure and add the equivalent of 2.6 million full-time workers to the European workforce.
