Correct interpretation of cancer statistics

Cancer is the biggest killer in the European Union. So, in a way, it was “good news” when a study recently showed that Malta has one of the lowest cancer mortality rates in the EU. It also indicated that women better resist all forms of this disease across all 27 member states.

This tiny country is also fortunate because a study in January by the World Cancer Research Fund placed Malta 43rd in a league table listing the incidence of cancer.

This first study included 50 countries and Denmark had the highest cancer incidence, with 326 people out of every 100,000 developing cancer annually. This was attributed to higher rates of smoking, particularly among Danish women, and higher overall levels of alcohol consumption. It is for this reason that alcohol is taxed so heavily in the Nordic countries. In contrast, the Maltese rate was far lower, at 211 cancer cases per 100,000 population per annum.

The research had also shown that developed countries generally have higher cancer rates than those having a lower income. And while this could well be due to better facilities in more developed countries for diagnosing and recording cancer incidence, it is also attributable to higher levels of alcohol consumption and smoking and, more importantly, higher levels of obesity and low levels of physical activity.

The second and more recent study showed that, in the EU, the average cancer mortality rate stood at 230 for males and 135 for females per 100,000 of total population. Malta was found to be more fortunate with an average cancer mortality rate of 200 for males and 125 for females per 100,000 total population. Again, lower income countries posted the worst cancer mortality rates. Unfortunately, lung cancer remains the most common of this type of disease, affecting men more than women, a risk that is associated with smoking, which also provokes heart disease and stroke, among other ailments.

However, comparisons with other countries are odious and unless we make a concerted effort our rates will eventually easily climb to those noted above, for both cancer incidence and mortality, and the reason is clear.

If obesity and lack of exercise are related to cancer, then the rates prevalent in Malta are bound to parallel the clear and present rise in obesity, a trend that is commencing in childhood in this country, as evidenced by several studies done here. It seems that too little is being done to tackle this and with little coordination between the departments of health and education. This country must meet the challenge of childhood obesity head-on because obese children become obese adults who beget obese babies. Hence, the inevitable rise in cancer incidence and the enormous costs that will be incurred not only due to cancer but also to the legion of other diseases that are associated with obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke.

A quotation from the British Medical Journal aptly and succinctly states that “we need to raise awareness about what people can do to reduce their cancer risk and as a society we need to make the kind of changes that make it easier for people to make these healthy choices”.

However, prevention must not only involve educational campaigns and other measures to deal with obesity, smoking and excessive alcohol intake but also cancer screening, a programme to which the government seems to be committed, at long last, so as to nip cases of this disease early in the bud.