Cancer incidence in Slovakia exceeds the EU average, especially for prostate, breast, lung, bowel and rectal cancers, wrote the TASR press agency. Furthermore, Slovakia has the third worst cancer mortality rate in the EU after Hungary and Croatia. By region, cancer mortality is highest in the Nitra region (329.5) and lowest in the Žilina region (273.6). In 2020, 773 men per 100,000 population in Slovakia had some form of cancer (EU average 686) and 483 women in the same sample (EU average 484). Based on the findings, cancer accounts for 26 per cent of all deaths and is the second most common cause of mortality in the EU after diseases of the circulatory system. There are large differences between countries, as well as between genders.
Cancer mortality shows large socio-economic inequalities. This is partly explained by differences in exposure to risk factors such as smoking, obesity, harmful alcohol consumption and air pollution. Risk factors are more prevalent among men, among low-income groups and among those with low levels of education. The risk factors that Slovaks face more than the EU average are smoking, obesity, being overweight and high levels of alcohol consumption and air pollution.
The Commission stressed that it will continue to implement more than 30 measures in 2023 to fight cancer.
Source: TASR
