Cancer death rates falling in developed countries
Death rates from cancer have fallen in developed countries
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Monday, 28, Jul 2008 08:33
Cancer death rates in developed countries have fallen substantially in the last 20 years, a new study claimed today.
The fall has come about despite a general increase in the prevalence of cancer, the research published in the online journal eCancerMedicalScience said.
Researchers at Bournemouth University found that despite recent reports highlighting the UK's poor cancer performance compared to the rest of Europe and the US, England and Wales have seen the largest reduction in cancer deaths overall except the Netherlands.
England and Wales' health spend increased by 66 per cent, compared to an average rise of 39 per cent, while average male cancer deaths (15 to 74 years) decreased by a quarter compared to an average of 12 per cent among other major developed countries.
Men in England and Wales now have a lower cancer death rate than men in the USA.
The results emerged from an analysis of World Health Organisation figures for 1979-1980 and 2000-2002.
This also revealed that, with the exception of Japan and Spain, cancer deaths for men declined significantly more than for women. The study's authors suggest that this may be due to the impact of lifestyle changes on women as more enter the work force.
They also suggest that the reduction in cancer deaths is influenced by increased expenditure including the use of new anti-cancer drugs.
Commenting on the findings, lead author Professor Colin Pritchard said: "While it may be true to say that the treatment of cancer has never been better, still more needs to be done, especially when facing the challenges posed by the increasing incidence of malignancies in the general population."