MORE than 3000 Victorians needlessly die of cancer each year unaware that an unhealthy lifestyle is a major cause of the disease. Most people do not know that a lack of exercise could increase their risk of developing cancer, a Cancer Council Victoria survey found.

Prevention centre director Craig Sinclair said a greater community awareness of how to cut cancer risk would reduce preventable deaths.

"There is a tendency for people to believe cancer risk is down to fate or family history, but in truth one third of all cancer deaths are due to avoidable risk factors and less than one in 10 are caused by known faulty genes," Mr Sinclair said.

The telephone survey of 3003 Victorians found just 55 per cent understood that being overweight greatly increased their risk of the disease, and only one in 10 mentioned check-ups or screening as a way to reduce the risk of cancer.

Full article:  http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/shaping-up-to-cancer/story-e6frf7kx-1225900829810