Millions of Britons are increasing their chances of getting cancer because they do not know that alcohol, processed meat and poor diet can cause the disease. Many people are confused about what raises or reduces someone's likelihood of becoming a victim of the country's second biggest killer.

Forty-four per cent of people questioned by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) thought stress increased the risk of cancer but just 36 per cent identified alcohol as a factor. This is despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence linking anxiety to the disease but numerous research studies which have linked drinking to five different forms of it, notably breast cancer.

Half of the population did not know that being overweight is a danger and 43 per cent were unaware that poor diet increases risk, according to a survey of 2,018 people by YouGov for the WCRF. In addition, just 32 per cent knew that eating processed meat is a potential health risk.

Lisa Cooney, head of education at the WCRF, said: 'There is no sound evidence that things like coffee, sweeteners and stress increase risk of cancer but a significant number of people clearly believe it is the case.'

数以百万的英国人正面临越来越多罹患癌症的危险，因为他们不知道酒精、加工过的肉类和不良的饮食习惯都可能导致疾病。许多人都感到很困惑：面对英国第二大杀手——癌症，到底是什么增加了或减少了人们成为受害者的可能性。

在世界癌症研究基金会（WCRF）的调查询问中，有44%的人认为精神压力增加了患癌症的风险，而仅有36%的人认为酒精是一个因素。尽管事实是，还没有关于焦虑的精神状态和疾病有关联的科学证据，但是有许多临床研究却表明，饮酒和五种不同的癌症之间有关联，尤其是和乳腺癌。

根据 YouGov公司（一个英国的市场调研公司）为WCRF所作的2018份调查，有半数的人茫然不知超重是一个危险因素，并且43%的被访者全然未知不良的饮食习惯会增加患病危险。此外，仅有32%的人知道食用加工过的肉类，对健康是一种潜在的危险。

WCRF的教育主管丽莎.库尼说：“还没有明确的证据表明，类似像咖啡，糖和精神压力这些因素会增加罹患癌症的风险，但却有相当多的人宁可相信事实就是如此。