Men in southwestern Germany suffer less often from lung cancer

Men in Baden-Württemberg are less likely to develop lung cancer
Lung cancer is still underestimated according to health experts. As much of the disease is related to tobacco use, it is emphasized how important it is to give up smoking. That this makes sense is also shown by the figures from the current report of the Cancer Registry of Baden-Württemberg. In the southwest of the country, fewer men smoke than the national average - and they are less likely to develop lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death
Life expectancy with cancer has increased across Europe. Yet one in four people in the European Union still die from cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Europe. This disease is also so dangerous because it is often recognized late, because lung cancer symptoms are often not noticed. Experts believe that about 85 percent of the diseases are related to tobacco use. This also explains why men in Baden-Württemberg are less likely to develop lung cancer.

Men in Baden-Württemberg are significantly less likely to develop lung cancer than the national average. In the southwest, men also smoke less often than in the rest of the republic. (Image: Nonwarit /fotolia.com)

Few cancers responsible for the majority of initial diagnoses
The new report of the cancer registry Baden-Württemberg has been published: In the diagnosis years 2012/2013 new cancer diseases are over 90 percent and thus almost completely recorded.

PD Dr. Volker Arndt from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), head of the Epidemiological Cancer Registry, explained in a communication what is remarkable about the recent cancer incidents in Baden-Württemberg:

"By and large, the results from Baden-Württemberg are similar to the nationwide data. Even in the southwest, the same types of cancers are responsible for more than half of all primary diagnoses in both sexes. "

In men, prostate cancer accounts for 25 percent, bowel cancer 14 percent and lung cancer 12 percent of all cancer cases. Breast cancer is by far the most prevalent among women, accounting for 38 percent of all new cases, followed by colon cancer at twelve and lung cancer at seven percent.

Baden-Württemberg citizens smoke less often
However, the team around Arndt reported a significant deviation from the overall German results: men in Baden-Württemberg become significantly less likely to develop lung cancer, which accounts for 11.5 percent of all malignant diseases in the "Ländle".

By contrast, in the national average, it is 13.7 percent. That agrees with the smoking behavior: Only 26.9 percent of Baden-Württemberg citizens are smokers, in other states, however, smoke up to 35 percent of men. The experts refer to data from the Tabakatlas 2015.

The long-term effects of smoking are also the reason that the lung cancer mortality rate has risen in Germany across Germany.

Diseases often preventable
About one third of all cancers worldwide are considered preventable. The cancer risk can be significantly reduced. When it comes to cancer prevention measures, it is above all the fight against smoking.

"Currently, more than 72,000 cancer cases in Germany are attributable to smoking every year. Tobacco use is not only a risk factor for lung cancer, but tumors can also develop in the throat and larynx, esophagus, intestine or lower urinary tract, "the Center for Cancer Registry Data (ZfKD) at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported last year website.

In addition to smoking cessation, there are other ways to reduce the risk of personal cancer: regular exercise, healthy and balanced diets, avoiding obesity and limiting alcohol consumption. (Ad)