(Brussels) To mark World Cancer Day, which is celebrated today, the European Commission has unveiled an update of the European Code Against Cancer. The revised Code sets out practical ways “to help prevent the disease and is the result of four years of work by over 60 European public health experts”. The guidance is based on scientific evidence – according to a statement from Brussels – and is tailored to the EU population and health systems. The revised Code “puts strong focus on lifestyle choices and public health measures to reduce cancer risks, covering issues such as vaccination, cancer screening, breast-feeding, alcohol intake, so-called ultra-processed food and air pollution, among others”. The updated Code was produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer on behalf of the Commission. Cancer, the statement reads, “is a significant public health challenge in the EU, with an estimated 2.7 million new cancer cases and 1.3 million cancer-related deaths occurring in 2024”. “Beyond the emotional toll cancer puts on the everyday lives of millions of people and their loved ones, cancer also has considerable economic consequences, estimated at €100 billion a year in Europe”. Furthermore, “an estimated 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes, and 40% of cancer cases could be prevented by addressing risk factors identified in the Code”.