Rabat – Prostate cancer rates are predicted to rise dramatically around the world in the upcoming years, particularly in less developed countries, according to a study published in the journal The Lancet on Thursday.
The annual number of new cases, projected at 1.4 million in 2020, is expected to double to 2.9 million by 2040, according to the researchers, the study found.
“Prostate cancer is already a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and the prostate cancer commission projects that the number of new cases will double between 2020-2040,” it argued.
Notably, the researchers cited “increased life expectancy and changes in age pyramids” as the cause of this rise.
With 15% of all male cancer cases being prostate cancer, it is the most frequent disease in males and usually affects those over 50. The frequency of cases gradually increases in age groups beyond this threshold.
In addition, prostate cancer incidences are expected to automatically increase as many poor or developing countries are now working to close the life expectancy gap with their developed counterparts.
“Unlike other major issues, such as lung cancer or cardiovascular disease, it will not be possible through public health policies to prevent this increase in cases,” AFP quoted the researchers who authored the study as saying.
According to the study, prevention may not be as helpful in reducing risk factors for prostate cancer, such as genetics and height, as smoking cessation is for lung cancer. Overweight and prostate cancer have only been found to be associated, but it is unclear whether the association is causal, it added.
But, the study’s authors made sure to add a silver lining to their findings, arguing that a number of strategies might be used to reduce the rise in prostate cancer.
In particular, they called for early diagnosis in less affluent countries, where prostate cancers are often detected too late to be treated effectively. Meanwhile, they cautioned against the possibility of ‘overdiagnosis and overtreatment’ in developed countries.
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