Cancer on the Rise in Low Income Countries

Cancer continues to be a leading killer in the United States and the rest of the developed world. A new study, however, shows that cancer rates—and cancer mortality, for that matter—are decreasing in the high-income countries, which is inverse to what’s happening in middle- and low-income countries.

A new report warns that as the Western lifestyle—and, more importantly, diet—continues to permeate deeper and deeper into this other nations, instances of disease never seen in this countries also continue to climb.

And just as we have seen the toll smoking, obesity, and a less active lifestyle takes on Americans, we are now seeing the same effect on poorer nations around the world, according to the American Cancer Society report, which has been published in the industry journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention.

“The rates of many cancers are being brought under control in Western countries through decreasing prevalence of known risk factors, early detection, and improved treatment,” explains American Cancer Society epidemiologist Lindsey Torre, in a recent press release.

She continues, “In contrast, rates for cancers such as lung, breast, and colorectum are now rising in many lower- and middle-income countries due to increases in risk factors typical of Western countries, such as smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and changing reproductive patterns.”

The report suggests, too, that while lifestyle and diet may be leading to cancer in these nations, lack of care and lack of access to care are also contributing; fewer screenings leads to discovering the disease long after it can be treated.

Truly, the numbers are astounding. The report says that in 2012 there were about 14.1 million new cancer diagnoses and roughly 8.2 million cancer deaths. While rates varied, of course, between each of the 50 nations surveyed (due to variations in reporting methods), the study researchers notes that even when you consider specific limitations in the study, the disparity (or the shrinking disparity, in some ways) between the rich and poor nations of the world starts to become quite clear.

The study also examined that breast, prostate, and cervical cancers are often successfully treated—and even cured—in high income countries because of simple screening guidelines that are not available in lower-income countries.

Torre goes on to note, “This study gives us important clues about the epidemiology of cancer and gives us some ideas about what we could further investigate to improve global public health.”

[graphiq id=”kjF1GPPc3nn” title=”Mortality of Cancer in the United States” width=”600″ height=”487″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/kjF1GPPc3nn” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/193/Cancer” link_text=”Mortality of Cancer in the United States | HealthGrove”]