Colon Cancer in the EU: A Major Health Priority - Epidemiology

Introduction

One of the EU missions in the domain of health is to correct inequalities in the delivery of care. In the more specific area of cancer prevention, screening and treatment, the available data show great inequalities in terms of incidence, mortality and survival rates related to Colorectal Cancer.

In fact, the global burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) highlights this neoplasia as the second cause of cancer mortality in Europe with 74 750 deaths in males and 70 326 in females in the year 2002, nearly one third of the total worldwide mortality for CRC (528 978).

References

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• 3 Keighley M R, O’Morain C, Giacosa A. et al . Public awareness of risk factors and screening for colorectal cancer in Europe.  Eur J Cancer Prev. 2004;  14 (4) 257-262