High lung cancer share in Berlin

Cancers: High lung cancer share in Berlin

04/15/2014

In Berlin, the proportion of lung cancer cases among cancer patients is significantly higher than on average in the eastern German states. Although other cancers are more common, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the capital.

Number of lung cancer cases in Berlin significantly higher
As reported by the Senate Administration for Health and Social Affairs on Monday with reference to figures from 2011, the proportion of lung cancer cases among cancer patients in Berlin is significantly higher than in the East German average. As can be seen from the figures of the Joint Cancer Registry of the East German Federal States, including Berlin, 18.1 percent of men and 11.7 percent of women from all cancer patients in the capital suffered from lung cancer. The average in eastern Germany is 13.8 percent for men and 6.5 percent for women.

Most common cause of death in tumors
Although other cancers are more common, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Berlin. More than 28 percent of all cancer deaths in men and 19.5 percent in women were attributed to lung cancer in 2011. The high proportion of lung cancer patients also has to do with the smoking behavior of Berliners. Even though it is still at a high level, the number of new cases is slowly decreasing. This has to do with the fact that fewer and fewer people smoke.

Rise can be explained with aging population
According to the information, in 2011 a total of 8,517 men and 8,846 women in Berlin contracted cancer. Compared to 2001, when there were 6,561 and 7,404 new cases, the numbers represent a sharp increase, which can be explained especially with the aging population, as the incidence of new diseases increases with age. However, assuming the same age structure for each year, this rate has remained broadly stable over the last ten years among the capital cities. The most common cancers among male Berliners were 18.5 percent prostate cancer, followed by lung cancer (18.1 percent) and colon cancer (12.4 percent). The most common cancer among women was breast cancer by far (31.4 percent), followed by lung cancer (11.7 percent) and colon cancer (11.3 percent)..

More breast cancer diagnoses due to prevention
Experts explain that the rise in breast cancer diagnoses is due to the fact that many Berlin women are completing the regular invitation to mammography screening. Thanks to this preventive measure, numerous cases of cancer have been discovered. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), more than 70,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Every year about 17,000 women die from it. The German Society of Senology (DGS) estimates that around 80 percent of sick women today can be successfully treated. However, much depends on an early diagnosis. (Sb)