Malta and Cyprus have the highest share of breast cancer deaths among women in the European Union, new Eurostat figures show.
According to the study, published on the occasion of World Cancer Day, 81 women in Malta died of breast cancer in 2013. This accounts for 21 per cent of all cancer deaths among women that year – the joint highest proportion, along with Cyprus, in the EU.
Breast cancer deaths in Malta among both genders increased proportionally by one percentage point since the previous study two years ago.
Of the other more common types of fatal cancer tracked by Eurostat, only pancreas cancer registered an increase and the incidence of lung, colorectal and prostate cancer remained relatively stable.
Across Europe, breast cancer accounted for 16 per cent of all female cancer deaths, or 92,600, in 2013.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Malta, with the incidence increasing year on year to 350 new cases in 2013. More than half of affected women are over 60 years old, a quarter are aged between 50 and 60 and a quarter are younger than 50.
Of the other more common types of fatal cancer only pancreas cancer registered an increase
Screening is available for women in the 50 to 65 age bracket who are all invited to be tested at three-year intervals. Yet, despite widespread awareness campaigns by both the government and NGOs, take-up remains low.
The Malta Medical Journal last month called for “urgent research” to establish why over 40 per cent of women invited for breast screening do not take up the offer.
A digital app was launched last year to help younger women assess their risk of breast cancer based on history, age, family tree and lifestyle and take the appropriate steps.
According to the Eurostat study, cancer was the cause of death for almost 1.3 million people in the EU, responsible for one in four of all deaths. Slovenia had the highest rates, with 32 per cent, while Bulgaria had the lowest, with 17 per cent.
Malta’s total figure was comparable to the EU average. In all, 851 people – 463 men and 388 women – died of cancer, with the largest share due to lung cancer, accounting for nearly one in five of all cancer deaths.
Meanwhile, an office of the National Cancer Platform was opened yesterday at the oncology centre. The platform groups several government and non-government agencies involved in cancer-related activities.