The incidence of certain types of cancer will increase by 2040 and the impact on mortality will be even greater, according to the European Cancer Information System (ECIS).
Population aging will have a significant impact on cancer incidence. According to projections, the incidence of certain types of cancer will continue to increase until 2040, with the largest increases expected for bladder cancer in men (+28%) and pancreatic cancer in women (+24%). The impact on mortality is even more pronounced, it is mentioned in an informative material of the National Institute of Public Health published on the website of the Olt Public Health Directorate, on the occasion of World Cancer Day. Thus, an increase of up to 43% in deaths caused by prostate cancer is estimated, while increases between +20% and +40% are expected for the other types of frequently diagnosed tumors.
Six types of cancer account for over 54% of all new cases
From the data for 2022, six types of cancer concentrate more than 54% of new cases at the level of the European Union, the same cancers being responsible for half of the deaths recorded from this disease.
“According to the European Cancer Information System (ECIS), estimates for the year 2022 indicate that breast, colorectal, cervical, prostate, lung and gastric neoplasms account for 54.2% of all new cancer cases and 50.2% of all oncological deaths registered at the level of the European Union. shows the cited source.
The incidence of cancer is increasing rapidly not only in Europe, but globally, the trend being explained by the aging and growth of the population, to which is added the modification of risk factors (many being associated with socioeconomic development). Smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity are cited as major determinants, with air pollution being one of the most important environmental risk factors.
The most common types of cancer in Romania, for women and men
The data regarding the incidence of cancer in men places Romania close to the European Union average when we talk about the most common types of cancer. Prostate cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and bladder cancer represent 58% of all male cancers in our country (compared to 59% in the EU). The cancers with the highest incidence among Romanians are: breast cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer.
In terms of mortality, men are most commonly affected by lung cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer, while breast cancer, colorectal cancer and lung cancer cause high mortality in women. The incidence (the number of new cases in relation to the population) and the prevalence (the total number of diseases in relation to the population, old and new cases) of cancer in Romania were below the EU average in 2022, while mortality is higher. A high mortality suggests low capacity for early detection and also low access to investigations and treatment.
Between 30-50% of cases could be prevented
Cancer is largely preventable, public health specialists point out, noting that between 30% and 50% of cases could be avoided by reducing risk factors and accessing appropriate medical services. Avoiding or giving up smoking, maintaining a balanced diet, regularly practicing physical activity to maintain an adequate body weight and abstaining from alcohol consumption are just some of the gestures that have a major impact in prevention.
Through screening programs and early diagnosis, on the other hand, it can be caught early and treated with a much better chance of cure.
The pilot screening programs for cervical cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer are steps that Romania is taking in the direction of early detection and increasing the chances of early diagnosis and effective treatment.
Cancer, more common among men
According to the “2025 Cancer Country Profile”, the incidence of cancer in Romania remained slightly below the EU average. Based on incidence trends in the years before the pandemic, the European Cancer Information System (ECIS) of the Joint Research Center predicted that, in 2022, the number of new cancer cases in Romania would be around 100. 471. It was also predicted that 55% of these cases would occur among men, with cancer affecting more men than women, as in other EU countries.
“Cancer incidence in Romania remained below the EU average: the age-standardized incidence rate for all types of cancer was 2% lower among men and 12% lower among women than the EU average”, is shown in the “Cancer Country Profile 2025”.
Romania has the highest incidence rates in the EU among men for laryngeal, liver and nasopharyngeal cancer and the second highest incidence rates for lip cancer, oral cavity cancer and oropharyngeal cancer. The four most common types of cancer in the EU in women – breast, colorectal, lung and uterine body – accounted for only 52% of all cancers among women in Romania (compared to 57% in the EU), with smaller contributions for breast cancer (28% in Romania compared to 30% in the EU) and lung cancer (7% in Romania compared to 9% in the EU). Cervical cancer, to a large extent preventable by vaccination, is on the third place among the most common types of cancer in Romania, after breast cancer and colorectal cancer, contrary to the pattern in the EU.
“Cervical cancer has an incidence rate almost three times higher in Romania (33 cases per 100,000 women) compared to the EU (12 cases per 100,000 women), a fact that underlines the importance of vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). Romania also has the highest incidence rates in the EU in terms of liver and nasopharyngeal cancer among women”, it is also shown in the cited document.
