Cancer deaths in Europe are slightly lower

Fewer cancer deaths in Europe than in previous years

09/02/2011

The number of deaths from previous cancer has fallen in the European Union (EU). Italian and Swiss scientists come to the conclusion that in the EU, almost 1.3 million people will die as a result of cancer in 2011 - far less than in 2007.

Based on the medical data of the past 40 years, the researchers from the Universities of Milan and Lausanne come to the conclusion that in 2011 1,281,466 people will die of cancer across Europe. Thus, the death rate for many cancers significantly reduced by about seven percent, the researchers report in the latest issue of the journal „Annals of Oncology“.

Cancer death rate predicted by extrapolation
For the calculation of the cancer mortality rate, the research team headed by Carlo La Vecchia from the University of Milan and Fabio Levi from the University Hospital Lausanne for Europe used for the first time a new mathematical model that they fed the medical data of the years 1970 to 2007 from all EU member states. The scientists found that, compared to 2007, the number of cancer-related deaths will decline by seven percent in men and by six percent in women. Overall, a reduction in the mortality rate was predicted for most cancers. For example, according to projections, deaths from breast cancer and colorectal cancer fall significantly. But there are also exceptions: In women, a significant increase in deaths from bronchogenic carcinoma (lung cancer) is predicted. For the year 2011, the researchers forecast a total of 721,252 male and 560,184 female cancer deaths based on their projections.

Cancer deaths have been on the decline for almost 30 years
In their study on Europe-wide cancer deaths, the researchers say that already „Since the late 1980s (...) in men in the EU a decline in the death rates for cancer“ is which one „for women (...) even earlier“ used. According to the scientists, the decline in the death rate in cancer as a whole is mainly attributable to falling deaths from the three most common causes of cancer death - breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer. In particular, the improved treatment and early detection options for breast and colon cancer have contributed significantly to the reduction of cancer deaths, said Carlo La Vecchia and colleagues. Their extrapolation has shown that among men in 2011, lung cancer will continue to be the leading cause of cancer death, with approximately 28,000 deaths, and breast cancer among women - with up to 17,300 expected deaths, the experts report.

Fatal lung cancers have risen in women
In addition to the decline in the three most common cancers, the mortality rates for other cancers also drops significantly, the result of the current extrapolation. In the case of gastric cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer, deaths are likely to fall in 2011, the researchers said. However, the calculated increase in lung cancer mortality among women is a cause for concern. This can be observed across Europe, except in the UK, where, however, already more women die of lung cancer than in any other EU Member States, the scientists said. According to the researchers, the number of lung cancer-related deaths in Germany will increase to 13,600 in 2011, compared with 11,900 in 2006. The most worrying aspect, according to the researchers, is the development of lung cancer in women in Poland, where bronchogenic carcinomas have even overtaken breast cancer as a cause of death. According to their projections, Poland has the highest mortality rate among both men and women, the researchers said.

Cancer in Germany second leading cause of death
Although there is a very positive trend in cancer deaths, the number of cancer deaths in the EU is unlikely to decrease in the long term, said study leader Carlo La Vecchia. Due to the demographic change and the associated aging of the population, the experts assume that the cancer deaths will remain relatively constant in the coming years. In Germany, cancer continued to be the second leading cause of death in 2010, with more than 216,000 deaths. According to information from the Federal Statistical Office, cancer accounts for around a quarter of all deaths, with men being most likely to die as a result of malignant bowel, liver and lung cancers, while breast cancer was the leading cause of death in women. (Fp)

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Picture credits: S. Hofschlaeger