As of: April 5, 2024, 11:01 a.m
By: Marie Ries, Sok Eng Lim, Andreas Schmid
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The cross-sectional image of a prostate in a control room at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Prostate cancer will increase sharply in Germany by 2050. © Uwe Anspach/picture alliance/dpa
The WHO expects significantly more cancer cases in Germany by 2050. Several forms of cancer are increasing - but there is no need to panic.
This study leaves you with a sinking feeling in your stomach. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of cancer cases is increasing significantly worldwide, but also in Germany. By 2050, diagnoses in this country could rise from 530,000 to up to 639,000, the WHO estimates in a current report. That would be an increase of around 20.6 percent. One in five people worldwide will develop cancer in their lifetime.
Increase in cancer cases in Germany: A third more prostate cancer
There is therefore a large increase in prostate cancer, where the WHO predicts almost a third more cases (plus 32.1 percent) by 2050. There are also high values for the most common forms of cancer in Germany: pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer and gallbladder cancer (see table).
According to the German Cancer Society (DKG), a key reason for the increase in cancer cases is age. The Germans are noticeably getting older. “As life expectancy increases in Germany, the number of cancer cases also increases,” says DKG General Secretary Johannes Bruns to
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
According to the WHO, in addition to age, lifestyle changes also increase the individual risk of cancer worldwide. The following four risk factors play a crucial role:
Smoke
Alcohol consumption
Overweight or obesity
high air pollution
More cancer cases, but fewer cancer deaths
However, the WHO data is not quite as alarming as some media interprets. The development should be viewed in a differentiated manner, explains the DKG. “Because a statement about pure cancer cases says nothing about the actual burden of the disease.”
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In fact, some forms of cancer are decreasing in frequency. This reduces the number of cases of testicular cancer, thyroid cancer and cervical cancer. And there is further good news: cancer mortality, which has been falling for decades, is continuing to decline. This means that although cancer is the second most common cause of death in Germany, fewer and fewer people are dying from cancer. “This development will probably continue,” explains Bruns. In 2022, the Federal Statistical Office counted 239,948 cancer deaths nationwide. Men are slightly more affected than women. Recently there has also been an increase in cancer cases among younger people.
Lower cancer death rates: “Diseases can be detected earlier and more precisely”
The reason for the declining death rates is increasingly better and more targeted therapy. Many cancer patients could now be cured and the quality of life of those suffering from chronic cancer could be positively influenced. “New developments in immunotherapy, which can be used in lung cancer and black skin cancer, for example,” says Bruns. In addition, there are now improved diagnostics, for example with the help of genomic analysis, as well as a good early cancer detection program. “All of this contributes to cancer being detected earlier and more precisely.”
There is now also a vaccination against cancer. “The vaccination protects against infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which can trigger the development of cervical cancer, penile and anal cancer and cancer of the oral cavity and throat.”
German Cancer Society: “Every person can reduce their personal risk of cancer”
According to experts, around 40 percent of cancer cases can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle. Specifically, this means: “Every person can reduce their personal risk of cancer with a healthy diet, sufficient exercise and sun protection, little or hardly any alcohol and avoiding nicotine,” says DKG General Secretary Bruns.
Despite all this, people can get cancer. Early cancer detection is therefore very important. “The earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the treatment options and chances of recovery are,” says Bruns. Several preventive examinations are also covered by health insurance companies.