Nollywood has lost three actors to cancer in the last six months, bringing renewed attention to cancer prevention and early detection.
In May, the industry mourned actor Alexx Ekubo, who died at 40 from complications arising from advanced metastatic kidney cancer, according to his family.
Three months later, veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, died at 66 after battling stage-four cancer. His death was confirmed on August 23.
On September 1, actress Atinuke Kareem also died after a battle with breast cancer. Before her death, Kareem had publicly appealed for financial support to continue her treatment, speaking about the burden the illness had placed on her family and her two young children.
Their deaths are individual tragedies, and it would be wrong to suggest that any of them could have simply avoided cancer by making different lifestyle choices. Cancer is a complex group of diseases with causes that can include genetics, infections, environmental exposures, age and factors that are not always within an individual’s control.
But there is also an important public-health lesson in the wider picture.
A World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer analysis published in July 2026 found that 37 percent of new cancer cases worldwide in 2022, about 7.1 million cases, were linked to preventable causes. The analysis identified tobacco, infections, alcohol, high body mass index, physical inactivity, air pollution and ultraviolet radiation among the major preventable risk factors.
The burden is not evenly distributed. Among women in sub-Saharan Africa, up to 38 percent of cancer cases were attributable to preventable causes, according to the analysis.
That does not mean cancer can be completely prevented. It means there are established risk factors that people and health systems can address.
So, as Nollywood mourns another cancer-related loss, here are 10 evidence-based ways to lower your risk.
1. Stay Away From Tobacco
Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of cancer globally.
Smoking is strongly associated with lung cancer and several other cancers, including cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder and pancreas. Second-hand smoke also carries health risks.
The WHO and IARC estimate that tobacco was responsible for about 15 percent of all new cancer cases globally in 2022, making it the largest single preventable contributor identified in their analysis.
If you smoke, quitting can reduce your cancer risk. If you do not smoke, avoiding cigarettes and other tobacco products is one of the clearest preventive choices you can make.
2. Limit Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is another established cancer risk factor.
It is associated with cancers including those of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, breast and colorectum. The relationship is not limited to heavy drinking; cancer risk increases with alcohol exposure, which is why health authorities do not identify a completely risk-free level of alcohol consumption for cancer prevention.
The WHO and IARC estimated that alcohol accounted for about 3 percent of new cancer cases globally in 2022.
For people who drink, reducing consumption lowers exposure. For those who do not drink, there is no health reason to start.
3. Get Recommended Vaccinations
Some cancers are caused by infections that can be prevented.
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is responsible for almost all cervical cancers and is also associated with several other cancers. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections can contribute to liver cancer, while Helicobacter pylori infection is an important cause of stomach cancer.
HPV and hepatitis B vaccines can therefore play a role in cancer prevention.
The WHO’s 2026 cancer analysis identified infections as the second-largest preventable contributor to cancer globally, accounting for about 10 percent of new cases in 2022. Cervical cancer, in particular, is overwhelmingly linked to HPV infection.
Vaccination does not eliminate the need for appropriate screening, but it can significantly reduce the risk of cancers linked to these infections.
4. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess body weight is associated with an increased risk of several cancers, the relationship is particularly well established for cancers including colorectal, breast after menopause, endometrial, kidney, liver and pancreatic cancers.
Maintaining a healthy weight does not mean extreme dieting or trying to achieve a particular body shape. It means developing sustainable eating and activity habits that support a healthy body over time.
The WHO identifies high body mass index as one of the major preventable contributors to cancer globally.
5. Keep Your Body Moving
Physical activity matters even when weight does not change.
Regular physical activity is associated with a lower risk of several cancers, including colon and breast cancer. It can also help with weight management and improve overall health.
That does not necessarily mean spending hours in a gym, walking, dancing, cycling, active commuting, household activities and structured exercise can all contribute to a more active lifestyle.
The key is consistency, and the goal is to avoid prolonged physical inactivity and build movement into everyday life.
6. Eat More Fruits, Vegetables and High-Fibre Foods
There is no single food that can prevent cancer, but overall dietary patterns matter.
A diet that regularly includes vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains and other fibre-rich foods is associated with better health and a lower risk of some cancers.
At the same time, health guidance recommends limiting processed meat and moderating red meat consumption. Highly processed foods should also not make up most of the diet.
This does not require expensive “superfoods” or specialised diets. Beans, vegetables, fruits and other locally available whole foods can form part of a healthier eating pattern.
The important point is the overall pattern rather than one supposedly cancer-fighting ingredient.
7. Reduce Exposure to Known Carcinogens
Some cancer risks come from the environment rather than what a person eats or drinks.
Ultraviolet radiation from excessive sun exposure can cause skin cancer. Air pollution is associated with lung cancer, while certain occupational exposures can also increase cancer risk.
The WHO and IARC included ultraviolet radiation, air pollution and occupational exposures among preventable cancer risks in their global analysis.
For people who spend significant time outdoors, sensible protection from excessive ultraviolet exposure can help. Workers who handle known carcinogens should also follow appropriate workplace safety measures and use recommended protective equipment.
8. Know Your Family Cancer History
Not every cancer is hereditary, but family history can provide important information about personal risk.
Having close relatives who developed certain cancers, particularly breast, ovarian, colorectal or some other cancers at relatively young ages, can sometimes indicate an increased inherited risk.
Knowing who in your family has had cancer, what type it was and roughly how old they were when diagnosed can help a doctor determine whether additional assessment or earlier screening may be appropriate.
A family history is not a prediction that you will develop cancer. It is simply another piece of information that can help determine your risk.
9. Know Which Cancer Screenings You Need
Screening is different from waiting for symptoms.
Screening looks for certain cancers or precancerous changes before a person notices anything is wrong. But not every cancer has an effective screening test, and not everyone needs every available test.
Recommendations can depend on factors including age, sex, personal and family history, previous test results and individual risk.
For example, cervical cancer screening can detect precancerous changes before they develop into cancer, while breast and colorectal cancer screening can help detect disease at an earlier stage in people for whom screening is recommended.
The WHO says many cancers can be cured when they are detected early and treated effectively.
Rather than buying into blanket claims that everyone should undergo every cancer test, speak with a qualified healthcare professional about which screenings are appropriate for you.
10. Do Not Ignore Unusual Symptoms
Screening is not a substitute for seeking medical attention when something feels wrong.
A new lump, unexplained bleeding, persistent pain, unexplained weight loss, prolonged changes in bowel or bladder habits, persistent cough, difficulty swallowing or another unusual change should not automatically be assumed to be cancer. But persistent or unexplained symptoms deserve medical evaluation.
One of the biggest dangers is waiting until symptoms become severe. Cancer does not always produce obvious symptoms in its early stages, which is why appropriate screening matters. But when symptoms do appear, getting assessed early can make a difference.
A cancer diagnosis is not automatically a death sentence. Many cancers can be treated successfully, particularly when detected early and managed appropriately.
The deaths of Alexx Ekubo, Taiwo Hassan and Atinuke Kareem cannot be reduced to a list of things they could have done differently. Their stories are personal, and the circumstances surrounding each illness were different.
What their deaths can do, however, is prompt a wider conversation about a disease that affects millions of people, including Nigerians who may never have access to the public platform these actors had, The science does not promise that healthy habits will make anyone immune to cancer. It does show that some risks can be reduced.
Avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, getting recommended vaccinations, reducing exposure to carcinogens, understanding family history and taking screening and unusual symptoms seriously are not guarantees, they are simply some of the things within our control, and nd sometimes, prevention begins with something as simple as paying attention.
