Cancer death rate down but cases up
Latest ‘map’ of the disease in France shows people in north three times more likely to die.
DEATH rates from cancer are dropping across France, according to a report out today.
However people in the north are three times more likely to suffer from cancer than those in the south and incidents of the disease are rising in the Lorraine and Massif Central.
The Atlas de la mortalité par cancer en France métropolitaine, published today, was compiled by the national institute for cancer (INCA) and the national institute for medical research Inserm.
INCA’s head of the department for monitoring public health Gilles Dixsaut said it was unclear exactly what was causing the geographical divide.
He said the rise in infections in the north and centre could be explained by movement of people or by their changing circumstances such as becoming poorer.
The report reveals that the geographical divide has become stronger over the past 30 years. It says a number of factors such as diet, drinking, socio-economic situation and genes may be to blame.
The north west has a higher rate of stomach and bladder cancer and cancers linked to the respiratory system.
Cancer survival rates, with the exception of skin cancer and lung cancer in women are improving.
Map: Inca and Iserm
