Colon Cancer Statistics

In this video, Hans Rosling shows that cancer in the large intestine, i.e. colon, gets more common when countries get richer. The data is compiled by IARC ( International Agency for research on Cancer) in Lyon, France. It reveals that colon cancer is equally common in men and women, that eat similar diets, in high-income countries. Prevention through promotion of health diet have not yet had any big effect but advanced screening programs and improved treatment have decreased the death rate among colon cancer patients in high-income countries. It is paradoxical that high-income leads to a diet that cause this cancer while at the same time only high-income can support a health service that can cure it.
Effective prevention could avoid a lot of suffering and save money for health services.

http://is.gd/CJKJ - New cases of colon cancer per 100 000 men (with size showing size of population)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• data
• IARC
• global

[pbjpaulito]

Very interesting indeed, I wonder if the increased levels in developed countries may also be the result of increased screening or access to diagnostics. This in combination with differences in life span and diet could be an explanation for the observed pattern/distribution of colon cancer.

[anotherelvis]

It could be interesting to plot statistics for Cuba and Japan. The Cubans are poor with long life spans. I think the japanese eat healthier.

[DoctorPlausible]

That's very interesting, but is it really the diet? The larger figures for colon cancer in richer countries could be just a side effect of longer life spans. The statistics shown here should've been normalised for age.