Useful maps. With the decline of smoking in much of the more affluent world, the lung cancer rates may get overtaken by a different cancer, probably colo-rectal. Lung cancer rates in other parts of the world may rise as Big Tobacco moves their drug pushing to poorer countries.
Anecdotally been hearing more about colorectal cancer so doesn’t surprise. Hopefully lung cancer rate doesn’t increase anymore given 80% of smokers live in low to middle income countries. Big Tobacco already took over the world 😬
This is based on the cause listed on death certificates, compiled by the WHO Mortality Database. Unfortunately, many countries are not shown as they lack sufficient death registration.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of male cancer deaths in many countries, primarily driven by smoking.
In parts of Latin America, prostate cancer leads. Although it has high survival rates in richer countries, it is common and can reach late stages before diagnosis, which limits treatment options.
Stomach cancer — shown in purple on the map — is the leading cause in several Central Asian countries.
It is primarily caused by H. pylori infections. In wealthier countries, infections have declined thanks to better food safety, hygiene, and antibiotics.
Liver cancer, leading in Mongolia, Thailand, and Egypt, is often the result of inflammation caused by long-term alcohol consumption or hepatitis virus infection.
(This Daily Data Insight was written by Saloni Dattani.)
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But which cancer types cause the most deaths?
The map presents the most common type of cancer death among men.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of male cancer deaths in many countries, primarily driven by smoking.
Stomach cancer — shown in purple on the map — is the leading cause in several Central Asian countries.
(This Daily Data Insight was written by Saloni Dattani.)