A report from the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) has stated that more than a half million Americans will die from cancer in the year 2015. The report also states that half of these deaths could have been prevented.

According to the report, lifestyle changes such as eliminating junk food, exercising regularly and abstaining from smoking, could reduce the development of cancer for half of the 585,000 projected cancer-related deaths.

The AACR reports that 33 percent, or close to 200,000 people, will die of cancers related to tobacco use in 2015. Despite the well known health complications associated with tobacco, nearly 800,000 people start using the substance each year, says the AACR.

Another 33 percent of these deaths will be from cancers linked to obesity, junk food and low physical fitness. Seven different types of cancer have been linked to obesity, the report states, including breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Healthy living does more than prevent the development of cancer, it helps mitigate the impact of the disease. Those who are physically fit, who don’t smoke and who eat well are more likely to survive their cancer than those who do not adhere to these habits. Regular use of sunscreen and avoiding tanning beds can also reduce the rates of skin cancer, a disease that is also regarded as mostly preventable by medical professionals.

The report, released on Sept 16, also notes that the survival rate for cancer is increasing. Research indicates that around four percent of the population in the United States belongs to the cancer survivor group.