2. Epidemiology of cancer

Question 1

Mortality of cancer

Answer 1

• 1 in 4 deaths is caused by cancer (25% of deaths)
• second most common cause of death after cardiovascular diseases

Question 2

Incidence of cancer

Answer 2

aprox. 75,000 new cases per year

Question 3

Morbidity of cancer

Answer 3

aprox. 1 in 3 people will develop cancer in their lifetime

Question 4

Cancers with highest incidence in males

Answer 4

1. Lung
2. Colorectal
3. Prostate

Question 5

Cancers with hightest mortality in males

Answer 5

1. Lung
2. Colorectal
3. Prostate

Question 6

Cancers with highest incidence in females

Answer 6

1. Breast
2. Lung
3. Colorectal

Question 7

Cancers with highest mortality in females

Answer 7

1. Lung
2. Colorectal
3. Breast

Question 8

Lung cancer mortality rate

Answer 8

26% of total cancer deaths

Question 9

Cancer incidence between 2001 and 2019

Answer 9

Increased by 31.1%

Question 10

Cancer mortality between 2001 and 2019

Answer 10

Decreased by 11.2%

Question 11

What is primary prevention?

Answer 11

primary prevention is the elimination and minimization of exposure to carcinogenic factors

• lifestyle: smoking, alcoholism, diet, hygiene
• environmental pollution: water, pesticides, fuel, soil
• vaccination: HBV, HPV

Question 12

What is secondary prevention?

Answer 12

organised screening: cervical cancer screening, breast cancer screening, colorectal cancer screening

Question 13

12 ways to reduce cancer risk by the European Code against Cancer

Answer 13

1. Do not smoke. Do not use any tobacco.
2. Make your home smoke free. Support smoke free policies in workplaces.
3. Take action to be a healthy body weight.
4. Be physically active in everyday life. Limit the time spent sitting.
5. Have a healthy diet: eat plenty of vegetables/fruits, high-fibre foods. Avoid high-calorie foods and sugary drinks. Avoid processed meat; limit red meat and salt consumption.
6. Limit alcohol intake – not drinking alcohol is the best cancer prevention
7. Avoid excessive sun, be careful with sunburn. Use sun protection. Protect children from strong sunlight.
8. In the workplace, protect yourself from carcinogenic substances by following health & safety instructions!
9. Find out if you are exposed to radiation from naturally high radon levels in your home. Take action to reduce high radon levels.
10. For women: breastfeeding reduces cancer risk for mothers. Menopausal hormone replacement therapy increases cancer risk.
11. Ensure you vaccinate your children: HBV for newborns, HPV for girls
12. Take part in organised cancer screening programmes for bowel cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer

Question 14

Primary prevention of smoking

Answer 14

• public health program
• new law agains smoking in 2012

Question 15

Primary prevention of obesity

Answer 15

• diet: new tax (ie. chips tax since 2012)
• increasing tax on alcohol and tobacco (2013-2018)

Question 16

Primary prevention of physical inactivity

Answer 16

public health program involving primary schools (since 2012)

Question 17

Primary prevention of occupational/environmental injuries

Answer 17

• health and safety rules for physical (ionising radiation, solar irradiation) and chemical injuries
• HPV vaccine supported by the government since 2014, against