Only in Denmark

Figures from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) from the World Health Organisation show that Denmark has an incidence of 326 people in every 100,000 developing cancer, the highest incidence in the world. Figures are based on 2008 statistics.

DOCUMENTATION See the figures here

A report on the figures in London’s The Daily Telegraph says that one reason why Denmark tops the statistics is that Danish doctors are better at diagnosing the illness that in most other parts of the world, but that lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption may also influence the figures.

Some 13 European countries, along with the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are among the 20 states in the world at the top of the WHO list. While better diagnostics in wealthier countries may explain some of the figures, these countries also tend to have higher incidences of obesity and alcohol consumption.

In the case of Denmark, the report says that a larger proportion of Danish women are smokers, and that alcohol consumption is high.

“We know that people in high-income countries are more likely to be overweight, to drink a lot of alcohol and to be inactive. There is strong scientific evidence that these factors increase risk of several common cancers and these figures show the effect of this. When you look at the list, it is clear that the countries that do worse for these factors tend to be nearer the top,” WCRF Prof. Martin Wiseman tells The Daily Telegraph.

“Scientists estimate that about a third of the most common cancers in the UK and other high-income countries could be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, being more physically active and eating more healthily,” he adds.