Population trends in aging and cancer

Abstract

Several recent studies from Denmark have shown that age is the strongest risk factor for developing cancer. These reports gave an overview of the trends in cancer incidence, mortality, prevalence, and relative survival in Denmark from 1980 to 2012 focusing on age, comparing persons aged 70 years or more with those aged less than 70 years. Data was collected from the NORDCAN database with comparable data on cancer incidence, mortality, prevalence, and relative survival in the Nordic countries. The Danish data originate from the Danish Cancer Registry and the Danish Cause of Death Registry with follow-up for death or emigration until the end of 2013. The studies found a higher incidence and mortality rates of all sites, but in nonmelanoma skin cancer, the relative survival was lower among persons aged 70 years or more than those aged less than 70 years. The age distribution remained constant over time while the percentage of persons dying from cancer decreased with time up to the age of 79 years but increased for those aged 80 years or more, in whom about a third of all cancer deaths occurred in 2012. There was an increase in the number of prevalent cancer cases aged 70 years or older. Politicians and healthcare providers have to make a strategy for treatment of elderly cancer patients due to expected increase in the elderly population.