Samoa’s most common cancers are preventable, but lifestyle risk factors continue to drive avoidable deaths, the Samoa Cancer Society says as the world marked World Cancer Day on 4 February.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Samoa Cancer Society (SCS), Dr Malama Tafunai, said available data show differing cancer patterns for men and women.

“From the 2023 data that is available, breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst women and for men — ‘unknown’ meaning that they were not able to determine what the primary cancer was,” Dr Tafunai said. “It is interesting to see that in 2022, gastric (stomach) cancers were the most prevalent (common).”

Dr Tafunai said that the most common risk factors for cancers are related to lifestyle factors.

“When looking at the top five most common cancers in Samoa these are all potentially ‘preventable’ cancers (breast, endometrium, colon, stomach and skin), meaning that the most common risk factors for these cancers are related to lifestyle factors like ultraprocessed foods, alcohol and smoking,” she said.

She noted that official figures rely heavily on laboratory-confirmed cases, leaving out cancers diagnosed clinically.

“Interesting here is that these are laboratory-based figures as lung cancer is also quite prevalent in Samoa and amongst men, but as we rarely do laboratory testing for this (confirmed clinically and with imaging), these figures will not be here,” Dr. Tafunai said.

She said reducing avoidable cancer deaths requires changes to everyday habits.

“Hence, the biggest things people can do to reduce avoidable deaths is to stop consuming these harmful substances,” she said. “Smoking continues to be a leading risk factor for many different cancers but lung cancer is the most, and not just from direct smoking but also secondary inhalation.”

Dr Tafunai also warned about vaping.

“We also recommend stopping vaping as there is evidence coming out that links vaping to cancer and we haven't been using it long enough (as we have with tobacco) to know the real damage associated,” she said.

She said alcohol and diet also play a significant role.

“Alcohol is known to cause eight different cancers, including breast, gastric and colorectal,” she said. “Ultraprocessed foods are undeniably associated with cancers.”

She cited processed meats as an example, saying they “have now been classified as group one carcinogens, meaning they have been proven to cause cancer in humans.”

On World Cancer Day, Dr Tafunai said the day is about awareness, inclusion and reducing stigma.

“World Cancer Day is a global cancer awareness day led by the Union for International Cancer Control that works globally to try and unite people, communities and governments to raise cancer awareness and address the issues that abound in addressing cancer,” she said.

She said the 2026 theme, “United by Unique,” recognises that “everyone’s cancer journey is different” and encourages open discussion to counter misinformation.

“It is raising awareness to talk about cancer to reduce the stigma that is often associated with cancer and reduce the misinformation that is often communicated about cancer,” she said.