PARENTS -PROSTATE CANCER- PARLEYS : HEALTH RESEARCH

 

Prostate cancer cases to double : study. The number of new prostate cancer cases around the world will more than double over the next two decades as poorer countries catch up with the ageing of richer nations, according to a Lancet report published last Friday.

'' Our findings suggest that the number of new cases annually will rise from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million by 2040,'' said the medical journal, based on a study of demographic changes.

Researchers behind the study said the rise in cases is linked to the increased life expectancy and changes in the age pyramid around the world.

Prostate cancer is the most widespread cancer amongst men, accounting for about 15 percent of cases. It mostly emerges after the age of 50 and become more frequent as men age.

As life expectancy improves in developing countries, the number of prostate cancer cases also increases, the researchers said.

They stressed that public health policies could not affect the change as they could with lung cancer or heart diseases. [AFP]