“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 becomes 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.
Hereditary factors are much less manageable than, for
example, smoking is in the cause of lung cancer. A link with weight has been
established but it is not yet known if this a direct cause of prostate cancer.
Researchers also said that health authorities had to
encourage earlier screening in developing countries as the disease is often
diagnosed too late to give an effective treatment.
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