Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. It is due to the abnormal behavior of cancer cells, which divide without interruption and cause tumors in any part of the body, even spreading to other tissues and organs. Scientific and medical research is focused on finding more effective and less aggressive treatments, as well as new ways of prevention and diagnosis. On the occasion of the European Week Against Cancer, TibHealth.com presents an assessment of the data obtained in recent years by various organizations on the incidence of cancer in Spain, as well as an estimate for the future.
What is the most common cancer in Spain?
Broadly speaking, the types of cancer most frequently diagnosed in our country in recent years were colon cancer, followed by prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and bladder cancer. If we focus on the incidence in men and women, the most frequent tumors in men are prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer and gastric cancer. In women, breast cancer, colon cancer, uterine cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer were, in that order. According to studies carried out in recent years in Spain, the incidence of these types of cancer has been growing progressively, and it is estimated that it will continue to increase in the coming years. This growing incidence is due to the increase in life expectancy of the population and unhealthy habits such as poor diet and smoking.
Incidence of cancer by communities
In our country, cancer accounts for approximately 27% of deaths, still below other causes such as vascular diseases and heart accidents. According to the study Cancer in Mortality in Spain, carried out by AXA with data from the National Statistics Institute (INE). This study also shows that the autonomous communities with the highest mortality due to cancer are the Basque Country, Madrid and Castilla y León. On the other hand, the communities with the fewest cancer deaths are Melilla, Ceuta and Andalusia. In Spain, cancer affects men more, being in their case the leading cause of death. The cases registered in women are lower, although they do increase in the 30-49 age group, largely due to the risk of contracting breast or uterine cancer at this age, while men are more at risk of contracting prostate cancer after the age of 50. It should be noted that, in many cases, higher mortality in certain age groups or geographical areas is due to poorer early diagnosis. Prevention is the main weapon against cancer, and for this reason, cancer screening programs or information campaigns can make a difference.
Most common cancer outside Spain
Regarding the incidence of cancer in the world, the results of the statistics in countries close to Spain are similar to those of our country. Also in the countries around us, cancer is one of the main causes of mortality, with a figure of approximately 14 million new cases in 2012, according to the World Health Organization. In Western countries, the most commonly diagnosed tumors in men in recent years were lung cancer, prostate cancer, colon and rectal cancer, stomach cancer and liver cancer. In women, the highest incidence was breast cancer, followed by colon and rectum, lung, cervix and stomach cancer. Estimates indicate that the number of diagnoses may increase by up to 70% in the coming decades. Within the EU, Spain ranks fifth in the number of cancer diagnoses. However, in the case of cancer in women, our country shows the lowest incidence rates, together with Greece. The high mortality rate of larynx and bladder cancer in Spain, much higher than in the rest of the EU countries, stands out. This may be due to poor early diagnosis of these cancers.
Better diagnosis and treatment
Although cancer cases are increasing over the years, it is also true that these figures are influenced by improved diagnostic tools and cancer screening programs. Medical and technological advances not only allow better techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors, but have also served to detect risk factors, and thus achieve better information and prevention of cancer. This disease, in most cases, is more treatable in its initial stage, so that prevention, screening and early diagnosis systems contribute to the estimation of a lower mortality rate in the coming decades. Therefore, it can be estimated that cancer is still a serious disease, and one of the main causes of mortality in Western countries. However, medical advances bring the hopeful fact of an increasingly earlier diagnosis, with a greater chance of successful treatment.