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World Cancer Day: Half of the cancers could be avoided

Every year, around half a million people in Germany get cancer. According to health experts, about half of the illnesses could be avoided through a healthy lifestyle.

Number of cancers is increasing

More and more people are getting cancer. The number of new diagnoses in Germany has almost doubled since 1970. According to experts, a large proportion of all cancers are considered preventable. Because a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of cancer.

Regular exercise, avoid overweight and high alcohol intake, do not smoke: A healthy lifestyle significantly reduces the risk of cancer. (Image: Maridav / fotolia.com)

Healthy lifestyle lowers the risk for many lifestyle diseases

Every year, around 500,000 people in Germany get cancer. On the occasion of the World Cancer Day on February 4, Barmer Krankenkasse points out that around half of these cases could be avoided through a healthy lifestyle.

"A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of many civilization diseases, especially cancer," Dr. Ursula Marschall, chief physician of the Barmer in a communication.

"Do not smoke, move regularly, not overweight, low alcohol and good protection against the UV radiation of the sun characterize such a lifestyle," explains the expert.

Everyone can do a lot to significantly reduce their personal cancer risk.

Cancer screening too rarely used

Current supply data of the Barmer showed that still rarely early detection measures of cancer illnesses would be used.

"In 2017, only about 16.8 million women in Germany perceived cancer screening. For the men it was only 4.6 million. That means only one in two women, and only one in ten men who are entitled to it, were involved in cancer screening, "said Marschall.

This is clearly too little, given the fact that an early recognized cancer can be treated all the better. The health insurance data showed significant regional differences in the use of screening tests.

In the case of women, Saarland (36.4 percent) and Bavaria (38.8 percent) had the lowest examination rates. In the new federal states, the rates are noticeably higher. Leader is Saxony with 44.4 percent.

For men, the differences between the federal states varied more. However, Saarland (9.3 percent) and Bavaria (9.8 percent) also reported the lowest rates here. Cancer screening was the most frequently used method by men in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (13.5 percent).

The health insurances cover the costs for cancer screening examinations in women over the age of 20 and men over the age of 45. (Ad)