Deaths caused by lung and cervical cancers jump in SA
New cancer research also shows that the most striking increase has occurred in colorectal cancer
Greater numbers of South Africans are dying from lung and cervical cancer, according to a study released by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). In 2015 alone, these cancers were responsible for the deaths of 19,160 South Africans. "The data suggests there is an increase in this global burden of incidence of cancer by about 33% in the last decade. In SA there is also an increase in mortality rate of these cancers." said Prof Benn Sartorius, a co-author of the study based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN’s) department of public health medicine. He is also a steering member of the Medical Research Council/UKZN Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Centre. Last year, the country had 114,091 new cancer patients and 58,237 cancer-related deaths. Death rates per 100,000 people are increasing for the top 10 causes of cancer deaths in SA, apart from for oesophageal and stomach cancer. The most striking increases were in colorectal cancer, with a death rate that rose ...
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