2023-07-03 22:02:36
What if soon, more women than men were affected by lung cancer? The number of cancers remains higher in France today in men (245,610 new cases estimated in 2023, against 187,526 in women), but the gap between the two sexes is tending to narrow. This is shown in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH), produced in collaboration with Public Health France, the National Cancer Institute, the network of cancer registries Francim and the biostatistics-bioinformatics department of the Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL ), the content of which is published on Tuesday.
This bulletin gives estimates of the incidence of the main cancers in France for the year 2023 and analyzes their evolution since 1990. It can be seen that the risk of cancer has increased by 47% in women over this period, and by “ only » 20% in men. What types of cancers are involved? And how to explain this narrowing of the gap between the two sexes? We take stock.
A very big signal on lung cancer in women
If among men, the cancer incidence rate first increased from 1990 to 2006, it then fell from 2006 to 2010, before stabilizing. But among women, it has increased continuously, especially for “avoidable” cancers (mostly related to the consumption of alcohol, tobacco or a sedentary lifestyle).
For example, over the period 2010-2023, the number of lung cancers in women increased by 4.3% per year, while it decreased by 0.5% in men. “There is a very, very big signal of attention to lung cancer in this population, insists Norbert Ifrah, president of the National Cancer Institute. Mortality from this type of cancer in women could exceed that of breast cancer. And this upward trend on the female side is confirmed for other types of cancer.
That of the lip-mouth-pharynx thus increased by 1.3% for them, and fell by 2.1% in their male counterparts. Colorectal cancers increased by 0.4% in women and decreased by 0.5% in men. Finally, that of the liver stabilized for men, but increased by 2.2% for women. Conclusion: the outlook is more favorable in men, although the incidence remains higher.
Smoking is the number one preventable risk factor for cancer
Main explanatory factor for this tightening of risks, according to the authors of the BEH: smoking among women. “Tobacco is the number one avoidable risk factor for cancer,” recalls Florence Molini, president of Francim. In 1974, the smoking gap between men and women was massive. By 31 points, with 59% of smokers for “only” 28% of smokers. But the women have since “caught up”. Today, this gap is only 5.7 points (27.4% daily smoking on the male side, against 21.7% on the female side). “The Covid-19 crisis has had a negative impact on reducing smoking,” adds Tania d’Almeida, co-coordinator of the incidence study at Francim. After the pandemic, we returned to a decrease in men, but not in women. »
Especially since lung cancers are not the only ones linked to tobacco consumption. The latter also has a role in those of the esophagus, pancreas or lip-mouth-pharynx. All up for women, and down or up less significantly for the opposite sex. Note that the drop in smoking among men largely explains the decrease in bladder cancer in this population, according to Norbert Ifrah.
Despite everything, some positive notes for women to report, with the reduction of certain cancers. This is the case for those of the stomach, the ovaries or even the bodies of the uterus.
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