Cancer remains Hong Kong’s No. 1 killer, and a Taiwanese kidney doctor says many people are raising their risk without knowing it—by drinking piping-hot tea, keeping the lights on at night, or reheating noodles in polystyrene. In a recent Facebook post, Dr. Yung-hsiang Hung, a nephrologist, listed 10 common habits that can promote cancer and explained how small changes can help prevent the disease.
Cancer Is Shaped by Daily Choices
According to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, lung, colorectal and liver cancers had the highest mortality rates in 2021. While only about 5 to 10 percent of cancers are inherited, the rest are driven by environment, diet and lifestyle.
Dr Hung stressed that cancer usually takes 10 to 20 years to develop. During that long latency period, improving sleep, eating better and exercising can strengthen the immune system and may help reverse or stop the process. Continue with bad habits, however, and abnormal cells may slowly multiply.
A Sobering Case Study
The doctor shared the story of a 60-year-old woman who had trouble swallowing. At first, rice became difficult to eat. She switched to soft foods, but eventually even congee was hard to get down, and she could only manage liquids. Over six months, she lost 8 kilograms and became dangerously weak. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with end-stage oesophageal cancer that had spread to her lungs and liver. Her expected survival was less than six months.
The woman’s husband had died 10 years earlier and her children were independent, so she spent her days watching television. She drank rice wine while watching, snacked on pickled dishes and repeatedly reheated soup, and she loved her food scalding hot.
The case highlights five red flags: long hours of inactivity, regular alcohol use, pickled foods, reheated cooking, and very hot drinks.
10 Cancer-Causing Habits, Ranked
Dr Hung’s list included many habits people often overlook. Highlights include:
- #10 Drinking hot beverages. The World Health Organization has classified drinks hotter than 65°C as probably carcinogenic to the oesophagus. Hot liquid can damage the lining of the mouth and throat.
- #9 Using polystyrene bowls for instant noodles. Boiling water can break down the material’s heat tolerance, potentially releasing harmful chemicals. Use ceramic or glass instead.
- #7 Sleeping with the lights on. Disrupting the body’s natural day-night rhythm may interfere with melatonin and raise cancer risk.
The full ranking was shared in images in Dr Hung’s Facebook post.
Small Swaps, Lower Risk
The takeaway is not to live in fear, but to make better choices. Let hot drinks cool before sipping; swap polystyrene for ceramic; keep the bedroom dark at night; limit alcohol; reduce pickled and processed meats; and avoid reheating leftover soup again and again. Adding more fibre-rich vegetables and regular movement can also help.
Beyond Cancer: Kidneys Need Care Too
In the same post, Dr Hung also warned about kidney health. Humans are born with about 2 million nephrons, which do not regenerate. Taiwan, he said, has about one in nine people living with chronic kidney failure. In Hong Kong, around 1,300 new kidney patients are added each year, and more than 10,000 people with end-stage renal failure are on dialysis or have received a transplant.
The Bottom Line
Cancer is not simply bad luck. Most cases are shaped by decades of everyday decisions. By understanding which habits matter—and changing them early—Hongkongers can take real steps to protect their health. As Dr Hung’s post suggests, prevention may be as simple as letting your drink cool down and turning off the lights at night.