MODIFIABLE FACTORS IN CARCINOGENESIS: EVIDENCE FROM AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW ON THE ROLE OF LIFESTYLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES IN THE PRIMARY PREVENTION OF CANCER

Abstract

This research aims to analyze and discuss the factors related to individual behavior and external environmental exposures that can be modified to reduce the occurrence of malignant neoplasms. To this end, an integrative literature review was conducted, covering the period from 2015 to 2025, with searches carried out on the SciELO, BVS, and Google Scholar platforms. The final sample, composed of seven selected articles, establishes the relationship between the individual's daily life, environmental agents, and primary prevention mechanisms in the oncological field. The data obtained show that managing preventable risk variables is crucial to interrupting tumor development, with emphasis on smoking cessation, limiting alcohol intake, and controlling metabolic processes associated with obesity. Strategies based on the consumption of unprocessed foods, combating sedentary lifestyles, and vigilance against chemical pollutants and solar radiation proved to be decisive in stabilizing cellular homeostasis and reducing cumulative genetic damage. It follows, therefore, that the reconfiguration of lifestyles, supported by educational actions and integrated public policies, plays a decisive role in reducing cancer mortality rates. This work reiterates the need to position primary prevention as a central guideline in health policies, aiming to strengthen self-care and promote longevity with quality.