Australia and New Zealand Record Highest Breast Cancer Rates Worldwide: Research
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Synopsis
A recent study reveals that Australia and New Zealand have the highest breast cancer incidence rates globally, with significant disparities in risk factors and outcomes. The research emphasizes the urgent need for action against rising breast cancer cases and mortality, particularly in countries with lower Human Development Index scores.
Key Takeaways
- Australia and New Zealand have the highest breast cancer rates worldwide.
- 1 in 20 women globally will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
- Breast cancer risk varies significantly by region.
- Only seven countries are meeting the WHO's breast cancer mortality reduction goal.
- Projected increases in breast cancer cases and deaths by 2050.
Sydney, Feb 25 (NationPress) Australia and New Zealand hold the highest global rates of breast cancer incidence.
A recent study conducted by researchers from Australia and Canada examined breast cancer incidence and mortality across 185 nations.
The findings indicate that one in 20 women worldwide will face a breast cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives, with one in 70 succumbing to the illness.
However, the distribution of breast cancer risk varies significantly around the globe, as reported by the Xinhua news agency citing the Science Media Exchange (Scimex) online platform.
The research states, “Incidence rates were highest in Australia and New Zealand, followed by Northern America and Northern Europe, with the lowest rates found in south-central Asia.”
The age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) for breast cancer in Australia and New Zealand in 2022 was recorded at 100.3 cases per 100,000 people.
In contrast, the ASIR in south-central Asia was only 26.7 cases per 100,000 people.
Nehmat Houssami, a co-author from the University of Sydney, noted that the elevated incidence rates in Australia and New Zealand could be linked to their ageing populations along with lifestyle risk factors such as alcohol use, insufficient physical activity, and obesity.
The age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) for breast cancer was found to be highest in Melanesia at 26.8 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Polynesia and Western Africa, while the lowest was in Eastern Asia at 6.5 deaths per 100,000.
Among the countries studied, France had the highest risk of lifetime breast cancer diagnosis, while Fiji reported the highest lifetime risk of mortality.
In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI), aiming for a 2.5 percent annual reduction in breast cancer mortality.
This new research revealed that only seven countries -- Malta, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Lithuania, The Netherlands, and Slovenia -- are currently achieving the GBCI target. Australia and New Zealand have managed a 2.1 percent annual decrease in mortality over the past decade.
The study cautioned that breast cancer cases and deaths are projected to rise by 38 percent and 68 percent respectively by 2050, significantly affecting nations with lower Human Development Index (HDI) ratings.
The authors emphasized the urgent need for action to tackle the growing disparities in breast cancer survival rates globally, especially in countries with lower HDI.
