Cancer incidence is rising

Published: 2010-09-28

Although overall mortality from cancer is decreasing in the EU, its incidence increased by almost 20%, from 2.1 million new cases in 2002 to 2.5 million in 2008, says a special issue of the official journal of ECCO (the European CanCer Organisation) on cancer prevention, published 13 September 2010 [1].

While the main emphasis continues to be on the ‘big four’ risk factors of smoking, obesity, alcohol and physical inactivity, the report warns against cost cutting in response to the present economic crisis. Indeed, as people give up or reduce unhealthy lifestyle habits in order to reduce costs, they may be particularly receptive to new and healthier choices. “Governments could levy higher taxes on tobacco, alcohol, trans fats and processed sugar and channel the revenue towards creating jobs in disease prevention and social welfare programmes,” said Dr Martin-Moreno, one of the authors.

Eur J Cancer. 2010;46(14)