A recent study has warned of an expected significant increase in prostate cancer rates in the coming years worldwide, particularly in poorer countries.
From their analysis of current demographic changes, the researchers concluded that this trend is a consequence of the expected ageing of populations.
Moreover, the researchers explained that “the annual number of new cases, which reached 1.4 million in 2020, will double by 2040, reaching 2.9 million infections.”
The researchers attributed this increase to “the rise in life expectancy and changes in age groups.”
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, accounting for 15% of all cases. It typically occurs above the age of fifty in most instances, with the frequency of cases gradually increasing in age groups beyond this threshold.
Given that a large number of poorer or developing countries are partially closing the life expectancy gap compared to their more advanced counterparts, an automatic increase in prostate cancer cases is expected.
The researchers added, “Unlike other major issues, such as lung cancer or cardiovascular diseases, avoiding an increase in these cases will not be possible through public health policies.”
Prevention cannot be effective in reducing the risk factors for prostate cancer, such as genetics and height, as it is, for example, quitting smoking for lung cancer. It has only been shown that there is a link between prostate cancer and excess weight, but it is unclear whether the relationship is causal.
However, the study’s authors believe that it is possible to reduce the increase in prostate cancer cases through several measures, such as calling for early diagnosis in less affluent countries, noting that prostate cancers are often discovered there very late, making them difficult to manage effectively. They also warned, on the other hand, of the risk of “overdiagnosis and overtreatment” in advanced countries.
