A new study has found that breast cancer death rates are expected to drop across most age groups in European countries by 2025, with a projected decrease of 4% in the EU and 6% in the UK. However, there is an exception: women over 80 years old, for whom death rates will only decrease in the UK and Spain.
The study, published in the journal Annals of Oncology, attributes the decline to improvements in screening, diagnosis, and treatment. According to lead author Carlo La Vecchia, this is surprising given that breast cancer mortality has declined across all European countries and age groups under 80.
However, elderly women face a different picture. They are screened less often than younger women, resulting in fewer benefits from improved treatments. This raises concerns about the impact of these factors on their health outcomes.
The research also found that between 1989 and 2025, there were an estimated 6.8 million cancer deaths avoided in EU countries, including nearly 370,000 breast cancer deaths. In contrast, the UK saw 1.5 million avoided cancer deaths, with nearly 200,000 breast cancer deaths.
Overall, cancer death rates have declined across the EU by 3.5% for men and 1.2% for women since 2020, while the UK has seen a decline of 10.1% among men and 6.3% among women. However, these gains are offset by population growth and aging.
The study suggests that risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, and obesity may contribute to an increase in certain cancer types, including pancreatic and lung cancers in men, and colorectal and uterus cancers in women. La Vecchia recommends limiting risk factors through measures like stopping smoking, controlling weight, and increasing screening for these types of cancers.
By focusing on reducing these risk factors and improving healthcare outcomes, researchers hope to further decrease cancer mortality rates across Europe.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/health/2025/03/12/measles-cases-expected-to-grow-in-coming-months-european-health-authorities-warn