The incidence of cancer in the Basque Country is declining, although it is still the leading cause of death.

Even though he cancer remains the leading cause of death in Euskadi —27.7% of Basques die from this disease—, Morbidity and mortality continue to trend downwards..

For this downward trend to continue, it is important – the Basque Government’s Ministry of Health insists – that prevention. In this sense, they value programs to reduce tobacco and alcohol consumption, as well as the promotion of physical activity and healthy habits to avoid major risk factors. At the same time, fundamental to this goal is screening programs which allow early detection of breast, cervical and colon cancer.

According to EFE, between 2014 and 2018 were diagnosed in Euskadi 71,069 cancer cases, which represents 14,214 new cases per year (8,230 in men and 5,984 in women). This represents an overall incidence rate of 778.8 per 100,000 among men and 535.1 per 100,000 among women.

Between male population The incidence began to decline in 2012, when there was a sharp decline in the incidence of colon and rectal tumors. Among women, it began to decline in 2013, but what is striking is that lung cancer rates are rising “significantly.”

most common types of cancer These are the colon and rectum, chest, prostate and lungs. Breast cancer is by far the cancer that affects women the most with an incidence of 8,205 cases per 10,000 women, followed by colorectal cancer with 3,887 cases and lung with 2,102 cases.

Among men, the most common cancer is prostate cancer with an incidence of 8,605 cases per 10,000 patients, followed by lung cancer with 6,035 cases and colorectal cancer with 5,882 cases, the Ministry of Health said in a note published to mark the celebration this Sunday. February 4, World Cancer Day.

Referring to mortalityFor the five-year period 2018-2022. A total of 30,799 Basques died of cancer, representing an average of 6,160 deaths per year: 3,674 men and 2,486 women, with a gross mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants of 344.9 for men. and 220.5 for women.

deadliest types of cancer For both sexes, these are the lungs, colon, rectum, pancreas, prostate and bladder, which account for 50% of cancer deaths.

Male cancer deaths are falling Over the past two decades: mortality from colon cancer (-4.1%) and lung cancer (-1.8%) has decreased significantly. In contrast, the death rate for men from pancreatic cancer increased by 1.1%.

Between Mortality rates have also decreased among women, especially in cases of the colon. However, lung cancer deaths rose 6.8% through 2010 and 2.7% from that year to 2022.