Cancer (cancer)

Number of cancer patients

In Russia

2023

The number of cancer patients in Russia for 4 years increased by 4%

In 2023, the number of cancer patients in Russia reached 4.16 million people. This is 4% more compared to 2019. The growth is explained by the detection of new cases of malignant formations as a result of medical examination and preventive medical examinations. This is stated in the BusinesStat study, the results of which were published in early July 2024.

The review considers the state and commercial sectors of the market, as well as various types of medical care - outpatient and inpatient. Among the leading enterprises of the industry are named LLC "Center for Innovative Medical Technologies" (Euroonko), LLC "SM-Clinic" (Oncological Center "SM-Clinic"), LLC "Haven" (Oncological Center "Lapino-2") and JSC "Medicine" (Oncological Center "Sofia").

It is estimated that in 2019 the number of cancer patients in Russia was approximately 4.01 million. A year later, the figure increased to 4.05 million people, rising by 1%. And in 2021, a decrease of 0.7% was recorded - to 4.02 million people. The fall is associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the conditions of quarantine restrictions and against the background of a high incidence of coronavirus, oncological patients did not always receive medical care in a timely manner and in full. In addition, the coronavirus increased risks during chemotherapy and oncological operations. At the same time, the consequences of infection in some cases provoked deaths among patients with malignant formations.

In 2022, the number of cancer patients in the Russian Federation rose by 1.9%, amounting to 4.1 million people, and in 2023 an increase of another 1.5% was registered. It is said that in Russia there is an improvement in the indicator of cancer detection. In particular, the medical examination carried out in the country allows detecting oncological diseases at an early stage.^[1]

625 thousand people with cancer are detected annually in Russia

Every year, 625 thousand people with cancer are identified in Russia. Such data at the end of January 2024 were cited by the chief freelance oncologist of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Director General of the National Medical Research Center of Radiology of the Ministry, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrei Kaprin.

This is a good indicator, because I remember that we once identified 599 thousand, just recently. It turns out that 125 thousand more. This suggests that we detect cancer more and more often, and therefore in the early stages, because this is a demographic indicator. We are now identifying somewhere 425-427 people per 100 thousand population, - said Kaprin (quoted by TASS).

625 thousand people with cancer are detected annually in Russia

He also cited WHO data, according to which the total number of people suffering from cancer around the world is kept at 18 million people. Every day in all countries of the world, 27 thousand people die due to neoplasms. At the same time, according to the expert, by 2030 the medical community expects an increase in the incidence, but such a forecast should not be frightening, but set up for timely detection of diseases, Kaprin concluded.

In mid-February 2024, Deputy Director of the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology for the implementation of federal projects Tigran Gevorgyan, during his speech at the XIV All-Russian Forum "Movement Against Cancer," said that about a quarter of 600 thousand annually diagnosed new cases of cancer are detected proactively, that is, in the process of professional examinations or medical examination. At the same time, the number of cases of cancer detected as part of the clinical examination differs significantly between the regions.

Not by 10-20%, so that later outsiders achieve a high indicator, but several times, several times. We ask the regions to focus on this. Naturally focusing on two key areas that are archival: screening for breast cancer and screening for colorectal cancer, - said Gevorgyan.[2]

Ministry of Health: 4 million Russians suffer from cancer

According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 4 million Russians suffer from cancer in the country. This figure was named by the deputy head of the department Yevgeny Kamkin on February 3, 2023. According to him, about 600 thousand new cases are detected annually.

At an online conference of the Regional Health Council under the Federation Council, Kamkin noted that tumors are successfully diagnosed "due to the strengthening of the material and technical base and the creation of conditions for timely diagnosis of diseases."

He recalled that since 2019, the federal project "Fight against Cancer" has been implemented in Russia. More than 1 trillion rubles will be allocated for the implementation of the measures of this project.

In terms of financial resources, this is the most resource-intensive project... in the system of the national project "Health," - said the Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation.

Thanks to the implementation of the project over the past four years, it was possible to reduce the mortality rate of the population from neoplasms by almost 4.4%. Also, the one-year mortality rate of patients decreased by 13.5%, he said.

I can say that even a 1% decrease in this indicator is a fairly significant figure, because it depends on this... one-year mortality rate, this is exactly what a person does not die in our country within a year... Now cancer is not a sentence, early diagnosis and modern treatments allow us to completely cure a number of diseases for which it was previously believed that this is all, treatment is impossible and only palliative care, - said Kamkin, noting that five-year survival rate increased by 6.6%.

He also clarified that the speed and quality of diagnostics have increased in the country. This suggests that the proportion of diseases detected at an early stage increased by 5.1% - at the first or second stages of the disease, Kamkin noted.^[3]

2022:635 thousand new cases of cancer registered in Russia for the year

In 2022, approximately 635.56 thousand new cases of cancer were recorded in Russia. In particular, malignant lesions were detected in 301.5 thousand men and 334.06 thousand women. This became known from a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), with which Zdrav.Expert got acquainted in June 2024.

In sex distribution, rates of oncological morbidity and mortality show certain differences compared to cumulative rates. In particular, in women in Russia in 2022, the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer was breast neoplasms with a share of 23.6% of the total number of new cancer cases. In second and third places are colorectal cancer and uterine body cancer with 13.3% and 8.9%, respectively.

Among men, lung cancer is in the first place: in 2022, such a diagnosis accounted for 18.6% of all new cases of detection of malignant lesions. Then come prostate cancer and colorectal cancer with 17.5% and 13%. If we consider the general statistics for both sexes, the most common is colorectal cancer with 13.2%, followed by breast cancer with 12.4% and lung cancer with 11.1%.

The key factors contributing to the development of malignancies, according to the WHO, are tobacco, alcohol and obesity. At the same time, air pollution remains one of the main environmental causes of the development of neoplasms. With age, the incidence of cancer increases sharply, which can be associated with the accumulation of risk factors for the development of certain forms of neoplasms. The situation is aggravated by the tendency to reduce the effectiveness of cellular repair mechanisms as humans age. The review also says that in 2022, 311.73 thousand people died from cancer in Russia.^[4]

2021

1123 prisoners with cancer

By the end of 2021, there were 1,123 prisoners with cancer in Russia who were registered at the dispensary in places of imprisonment, against 1,132 people a year earlier. In 2019, the number of patients with cancer in the FSIN system was 1362, in 2018 - 1355, in 2017 - 1487. This is evidenced by the data of the department, published in June 2022.

Experts interviewed by Vedomosti associate a significant decrease in the number of cancer patients among those convicted with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and a general decrease in the number of prisoners. As the newspaper notes, the list of diseases in which the convict can be released, for example, includes neoplasms that require treatment in a specialized medical organization.

According to medical expert Ksenia Barkhatova, the bureaucratic process of obtaining an opinion and the lack of proper funding in the FSIN system leads to a small proportion of people who are sent for treatment to specialized health care institutions. Another important aspect is the provision of drug therapy. According to treatment protocols, the use of chemotherapy drugs with trade names is often required clinical trials of which were carried out outside the Russian Federation. Purchases of such drugs require significant financial costs and are purchased by specialized oncological institutions. Chemotherapy requires constant monitoring, she said.^[5]

Every year, about 4,000-4,500 cases of childhood oncological diseases are registered in Russia

According to data for 2022, about 4,000-4,500 cases of childhood cancer are registered in Russia every year, which is approximately 15-17 cases per 100,000 child population (this is 1-2 out of 10,000 children). The five-year overall survival rate is about 75-80%, which means that 7-8 children out of 10 remain alive for 5 years after treatment. Persistent remission reaches 6 children out of 10.

2020: Reduction in the number of new cases of cancer to 556 thousand

In 2020, 556 thousand new cases of cancer were registered in Russia. However, at the end of 2021, Russian oncologists expect an unprecedented increase in the number of cases of primary malignancies. Moreover, in some cases with a more serious course of the disease. This is due to the difficulties of early diagnosis of diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

3.92 million registered patients

In Russia, as well as around the world, oncological diseases, along with cardiovascular diseases, continue to lead the list of diseases with a high mortality rate. In 2019, 3,928,338 patients were registered in Russian oncological dispensaries.

640 thousand new cases were detected (+ 2.5%). Arkhangelsk and Bryansk regions are in the lead

According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, in 2019, 640,391 cases of malignant neoplasms were detected in Russia, which is a record figure. It is 2.5% higher than the result of 2018. The total incidence rate was 436.3 cases per 100 thousand population.

The Arkhangelsk region became the leader among Russian regions in terms of morbidity at the end of 2019. 566.2 cases per 100 thousand of the population were registered there. Next come:

• Bryansk region (556.2);
• Sakhalin Oblast (550.2);
• Mordovia (548.6);
• Penza region (548.1);
• Oryol region (546.9);
• Yaroslavl region (543.4);
• Kursk region (537.7);
• Ivanovo region (534.2);
• Sevastopol (532).

In Chukotka and in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, cancers occur less often compared to other regions - doctors recorded 205 and 215 new cases per 100 thousand people in there. In St. Petersburg , this figure was 506.5 cases per 100 thousand population,  in Moscow - 385.3.

The increase in the number of newly diagnosed oncological diseases over the past year is associated with an improvement in the quality of diagnostics and access to medicine in the country, explained to RT the chief freelance oncologist of the  Ministry of Health, Director General of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "National Medical Research Center of Radiology,"  Academician  RANAndrei Kaprin.

He noted that in the Central and Volga, North Caucasus federal districts, the incidence over five years increased by 10%.

Unfortunately, we are talking not only about the "healthy population," but also about the insufficient level of examination of the population, - said the doctor.

In the Arkhangelsk region, he associated the high number of new cases of cancer per 100 thousand people with the work of the regional cancer service and "the very specifics of the region." Kaprin noted that diagnostics are well developed in the region, assistance is provided at a high level in the profile of "radiology," "chemotherapy."^[6]

The high indicators of the Arkhangelsk region can be explained by the fact that, in addition to natural aging, there was a strong outflow of youth from the region, so the concentration of the elderly population is higher here than in other regions, "says Aleksei Belyaev, chief freelance oncologist of the North-West. - At the same time, a surge in cancers comes just after 50-60 years. Elderly people have dozens of times higher incidence than young people. Therefore, the Arkhangelsk region is among the first in terms of morbidity and mortality from cancer.

2018

The Ministry of Health named the regions with the highest prevalence of cancer and the number of dead patients

In June 2019, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation named the regions with the highest prevalence of cancer, as well as the number of people who died from this disease.

According to the ministry, in 2018, the highest incidence of cancer was in the Kursk region - 3331.1 cases per 100 thousand people. The second place was taken by Mordovia (3292.1), followed by the Krasnodar Territory (3235.2), Kaluga (3231.4) and Pskov (3110.5) regions.

The minimum number of cancer was detected in Dagestan (887 cases per 100 thousand population), Tuva (993.1), Chechnya (1044), Ingushetia (1179.3) and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) (1244.8).

The average prevalence rate of oncologists in the country in 2018 was 2562.1 cases per 100 thousand population. Over 10 years, it has increased by 40%. However, the ministry associated this not only with an increase in the incidence, but also with an improvement in the situation with the formulation of diagnoses. At the same time, the life expectancy of cancer patients has increased.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, in 2018, more than 29 thousand residents of Russia who were not registered with cancer institutions died of cancer. For every 100 patients who died from malignant neoplasms, 10.7 were not registered. Of these, the diagnosis was made posthumously in 5.2 patients per 100 patients with a first-in-life diagnosis.

In addition, the Ministry of Health speaks of an increase in the index of accumulation of a contingent of patients with malignant neoplasms compared to 2008 - from 5.7 to 6.9. The highest figure is in North Ossetia (8.4), Moscow (8), Leningrad (7.9) and Rostovskaya (7.9) regions, the lowest - in the Republic of Tuva (4.1), Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (4.7) and Magadan Region (5).

The number of patients with cancer at stage 4 increased in 2018 in 49 regions, in 52 regions there was equality compared to 2017.^[7]

3.76 million cancer patients (+ 23% by 2008 )

In 2018, 3.76 million patients with cancer were registered in Russia, i.e. 2.6% of the country's population, and since 2008 the incidence of cancer has increased by 23.7%. This was told by a freelance oncologist of the Ministry of Health, Director General of the National Medical Research Center of Radiology, Academician RANNDRAY Kaprin.

According to him, the mortality rate per 100 thousand population as of 2017 amounted to 197.9 people, and the incidence - 425.4 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants of the country.

The highest mortality rate of cancer patients in 2018 was recorded in the Siberian Federal District, where 24.2% of patients with such a diagnosis died. In the North Caucasus Federal District , annual mortality rates are also high - 22%.

The best results were shown by the Far Eastern Federal District - 28.7% of new cases were detected due to an increase in the onconference of doctors. In terms of detectability at the first and second stages, the Central Federal District is in the lead - 57.7% of cases.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova, in the first quarter of 2019, mortality from malignant neoplasms decreased by 1.6%, and about 135 thousand people received chemotherapy treatment.

The Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (FFOMS, Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund) also cites its statistics: in January-March 2019, 2.4 million patients with cancer received outpatient medical care, for which 2.4 billion rubles were spent. 167.7 thousand cases (8.8 billion rubles) were treated in a day hospital, and 268.2 thousand cases (19.8 billion rubles) were treated in a hospital.

Andrei Karpin stressed that fatty foods, alcohol abuse, sedentary lifestyle and smoking increase the risk of cancer. At the same time, smoking from 30 to 50 times increases the likelihood of developing cancer. It's not just about lung cancer. Obesity is also a carcinogenic factor. ^[8]

624 thousand Russian women have genital cancer

In 2018, malignant neoplasms of the genitals were diagnosed in 624 thousand Russian women. In Moscow and the Moscow region, the share of women who have experienced oncological pathologies of the reproductive system exceeds national indicators. So, in the capital region, the number of confirmed cases is 22% higher than the national average. High-dose brachytherapy is used to treat these diseases.

2017

3.63 million patients, five-year survival rate - only 40%

According to official statistics on oncological diseases for 2017, prepared by the Moscow Research Cancer Institute. P.A. Herzen, at the end of 2017, 3,630,567 patients were registered in territorial oncological institutions of Russia (2016 − 3,518,842). The cumulative prevalence rate was 2,472,4 per population 100,000.

As of January 2019, the level of five-year survival after diagnosis in the Russian Federation is one of the lowest in Europe and is 40%. In France, for example, more than 60%, and in the United States more than 80%. The reason is that in Russia oncological diseases are diagnosed, as a rule, at the 3rd and 4th stages, and in Europe and the USA at the 1st or 2nd stage. According to various sources, in our country, the life expectancy of an oncological patient after diagnosis is 2.5-4 years, while in Europe, the United States - 15 years.

More than 500 thousand new cases of cancer are diagnosed in Russia annually

More than 500 thousand new cases of cancer are diagnosed in Russia every year, - representatives of the Medtronic company said in June 2017. In about 2/3 of these patients, the primary cancer will spread to other organs. The first place in the incidence of metastases is occupied by the lungs (see Lung cancer), in second place - the liver. The bone system ranks third, and inside the entire bone system, the spinal column is the most frequent localization of metastases^[9]

In the world

2021: World Cancer Incidence Map

1. US - 5.4%

2. Canada - 4.6%

3. New Zealand - 3.2%

4. Norway - 3.15%

5. Australia - 3%

For comparison:

Russia - 1.75%

Ukraine - 1.6%

Belarus - 1.6%

Kazakhstan - 0.8%

2020: 19.3 million new cases of cancer, 10 million people died

According to the International Agency for the Study of Cancer (IARC), in 2020, 19.3 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the world. Of these, 10 million people died.

2019

Cancer is increasingly detected in young people in the United States

Cancer ceases to be a disease of the elderly in the United States - cancer is increasingly detected in young Americans. This is stated in the study, the results of which were published in early January 2024.

According to the published data, over 20 years, the number of cases of detection of malignancies in persons under 50 years of age in the United States increased by 12.8%. If in 2000 95.6 such cases were detected per 100 thousand of the population, then in 2019 the figure increased to 107.8 diagnoses. Moreover, data published in the journal BMJ Oncology in 2023 suggest a sharp global increase in cancer rates in people under the age of 50. Moreover, the highest rates are observed in North America Australia and Western. To Europe

Experts are trying to establish the reasons for this trend and identify young people at high risk. It is suggested that the observed picture may be associated with changes in lifestyle: this is less physical activity, more ultra-processed products, new toxins, etc.

Cancer patients are getting younger. This is probably something to do with environmental changes, our food preferences, drugs or something else that we have not yet identified, "says Dr. Andrea Cercek, program manager for patients with early onset gastrointestinal cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

The U.S. cancer death rate has dropped by a third since 1991, thanks to a reduction in smoking and improved treatment effectiveness. In addition, screening for early detection of malignancies, including breast cancer, contributes to a decrease in the number of deaths.^[10]

Incidence of cancer at a young age increased in the world over 30 years by 79%

In the period from 1990 to 2019, the incidence of cancer among people under the age of 50 increased globally by 79.1%. Factors such as obesity and alcohol consumption contribute to the deterioration of the situation, as stated in the study, the results of which were published on September 5, 2023.

As part of the work, specialists from Harvard University, the University of Edinburgh, the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Imperial College in London and Zhejiang University in China assessed the incidence and mortality of 29 types of malignancies in 204 countries and regions around the world. In 2019, the number of new cancer diagnoses among people under 50 was 3.26 million against 1.82 million in 1990. At the same time, the number of deaths associated with cancer in the considered age group increased by 27.7%.

Breast cancer accounts for the largest number of cases and related deaths: 13.7 and 3.5 for every 100,000 inhabitants of the planet, respectively. In addition to malignant breast tumors, cases of disease and death due to cancer of the trachea, lungs, stomach and intestines are most often reported.

The highest incidence rates of cancer with onset under the age of 50 in 2019 were recorded in North America, Oceania and Western Europe. In low- and middle-income countries, early-onset cancer had a much greater impact on women than men - in terms of both mortality and worsening health.

Data from the study suggest that the main risk factors contributing to the most common early-onset cancers are diets high in red meat and low in fruit and milk, alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking.^[11]

2008: 12.7 million new cancer cases

In total, in 2008, there were about 12.7 million new cases of cancer in the world.

According to a 2008 IARC study in countries whose human development index (HDI) exceeds the average level, 62 percent of all cancer cases were tumors:

• lungs,
• liver,
• breast,
• prostate (prostate),
• esophagus,
• stomach and
• colon.

IARC specialists, part of the World Health Organization (WHO), recorded that the increase in socio-economic indicators in many countries is accompanied by a decrease in the incidence of infectious cancer and a simultaneous increase in the proportion of tumors whose development is associated with hormonal disorders and poor diet^[12].

Residents of states with low HDI rates were more likely to suffer from malignant neoplasms of the cervix, as well as the liver and breast.

In men, cancer tumors of the prostate, lungs and liver were most often detected. Breast and cervical cancer was found to be the most common among women.

According to statistics (April 2018), bladder cancer is among the top ten most common types of cancer; it affects more than 2.7 million people worldwide. More than 430 thousand new cases of the disease and more than 165 thousand deaths are registered annually. At the same time, 16 thousand new diagnoses of bladder cancer per year are made in Russia, on average 6 thousand patients die.

Prognosis of morbidity

IARC predicts 28.4 million new cases in 2040

According to IARC forecasts, in 2040, about 28.4 million newly diagnosed cancers may be registered in the world, which is 47% more than was recorded in 2020.

IARC predicts 22.2 million new cases by 2030

The number of annually reported cases of cancer worldwide will exceed 22.2 million by 2030. Such data were obtained from a study conducted by specialists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The results of the work are published in the journal The Lancet Oncology (May 2012).

Employees of IARC, part of the World Health Organization (WHO) framework, examined data on the prevalence of cancer in 2008. They also estimated the dynamics of cancer incidence between 1988 and 2002 and, based on these data, made a forecast for 2030.

Public people with cancer

• Former head of AccenturePierre Nanterme. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016.
• AppleSteve Jobs co-founder. In 2003, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic tumor known as islet cell neuroendocrine tumor.
• Oleg Tinkov. He was diagnosed with blood cancer in October 2019.

Types of cancer

Malignant diseases of the reproductive system

Main article: Malignant diseases of the reproductive system

• Breast cancer (BC)
• Cervical cancer
• Uterine body cancer (endometrial cancer)
• Ovarian cancer
• Prostate (prostate) cancer
• Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)

On July 24, 2019, Allergan announced that it was withdrawing Biocell textured breast implants and tissue expanders from the market. The reason for the recall was concerns about a rare form of cancer known as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). Read more here.

Malignant blood diseases

Main article: Malignant blood diseases

Malignant blood diseases differ from other oncological diseases in that the oncohematological disease does not form a tumor in the body, and malignant cells spread throughout the body. Therefore, for patients with this disease, there is no option for surgical treatment.

• Leukemia (leukemia, blood cancer)

Head and neck tumours

Main article: Head and neck tumours

The most common types of head and neck tumors are:

• Thyroid cancer
• cancer of the lip and oral mucosa,
• nasopharyngeal cancer,
• cancer of other pharyngeal regions.

Other cancers

• Brain cancer
• Lung cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Bowel cancer (colorectal cancer)
• Liver cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Skin Cancer, Melanoma
• Oesophageal cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Lymphoma is a malignant tumor from cells of the immune system that affects the lymphatic system.

• Neuroblastoma is a rare form of cancer that affects children first. In 2021, risk-adapted treatment programs are based on the allocation of 3 risk groups; 40-50% of patients are stratified into a high-risk group. Among this group, the probability of long-term survival is less than 50%, even despite the use of multicomponent aggressive therapy involving chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. At the time of diagnosis, patients tend to have already developed a metastatic process, and this may increase the likelihood of an adverse outcome.

• Bone cancer

Cancer vaccines

2024: Russia close to creating cancer vaccines - Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in February 2024 that Russia is close to creating vaccines against cancer, which may soon become available to patients - Reuters.

Cancer diagnosis

Main article: Cancer diagnosis

Causes of cancer

2025: Alcohol abuse significantly increases cancer risk

Numerous studies confirm that alcohol abuse significantly increases the risk of developing malignancies. In particular, alcohol is a recognized group 1 carcinogen under the classification of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It promotes cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon and breast.

'The mechanisms of alcohol's effects on the development of cancer include DNA damage, increased inflammatory processes and effects on metabolism and the immune system. Ethanol and its metabolites, especially acetaldehyde, are carcinogens that can damage cells and stimulate tumor growth. '- said in October 2025 Dmitry Gornastolev, chief specialist in oncology at Hadassah and the Medskan group of companies.

2024

Role of RNA in cancer development first discovered

On October 2, 2024, American specialists from the University of Chicago and the University of Texas at San Antonio released the results of a study that shed light for the first time on the role of RNA in the formation of malignant tumors. We are talking, in particular, about the development of blood cancer (leukemia) and the brain. Read more here.

Smoking accounts for 85.6% of lung cancers, 85.6% of tracheal cancers and 80.1% of laryngeal cancers

On July 11, 2024, specialists from the American Cancer Society (ACS) released the results of a study stating that cigarette smoking, overweight and alcohol consumption are leading modifiable risk factors associated with the development of malignant formations and death from. cancer The authors of the report estimated the proportion and number of invasive cancer cases and related deaths for 30 types of new formations among adults 30 years of age and older in. USA

Approximately 40% of all new malignancies and 44% of cancer deaths in this age group were found to be due to modifiable risk factors. Cigarette smoking is a leading factor, accounting for almost 20% of all cancers and 30% of all cancer deaths. At the same time, smoking is associated with the development of 85.6% of cases of lung cancer, 85.6% of cases of tracheal cancer, 80.1% of cases of laryngeal cancer, 56.8% of cases of pharyngeal cancer and 54.8% of cases of oral cancer. Passive smoking also poses a danger: it contributed to the development of 2.7% of lung cancers.

Smoking is a risk factor for 85.6% of lung cancers, 85.6% of tracheal cancers and 80.1% of laryngeal cancers

The second most important factor is overweight: 7.6% of neoplasms and 7.3% of cancer deaths are associated with it. Excess weight contributed to 53.1% of uterine body malignancies, 37.1% of gallbladder cancers, 35.4% of esophageal cancers, and 34.9% of liver cancers.

In third place in the list of the most significant factors is alcohol consumption. It accounts for 5.4% of neoplasms and 4.1% of deaths. Alcohol abuse provoked 41.7% of oral cancers, 40.4% of pharyngeal cancers and 26.4% of laryngeal malignancies.^[13]

2023

Sensational mechanism of occurrence of half of all cancer cases in the world revealed

On November 28, 2023, Australian specialists from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research (WEHI) announced an important discovery that sheds light on the mechanism of occurrence of half of all cancer cases in the world. We are talking about a mutation of the p53 protein, which serves as a suppressor of the formation of malignant tumors.

Participants in the work note that in a normal state, p53 plays a decisive role in preventing the formation of cancer cells. The protein serves as a powerful defense mechanism, responsible for repairing or removing cells with impaired DNA. However, due to various environmental factors, p53 can mutate, losing its protective properties. Moreover, in some cases, the action of the protein is enhanced, but at the same time it begins to perform directly opposite functions, helping cancer cells survive and multiply.

Australian scientists, who conducted research together with Italian colleagues from the University of Trento, found out what characteristics help mutant p53 stimulate the development of malignant formations. Experts analyzed 157 different types of mutations of the protein, and then restored its normal functions. It turned out that this process allows you to suppress the growth of cancer cells.

As part of the study, we obtained the first evidence that in fact it is the loss of functions [p53] that affects the growth of malignant tumors. We found no evidence that increased function contributes to cancer, "says Gemma Kelly, one of the authors of the work.

Experts emphasize that the results obtained change the understanding of the mechanism of the p53 mutation. And this opens the way to the development of more effective means for the treatment of malignant tumors.^[14]

How the Y chromosome affects cancer aggressiveness in men

On June 21, 2023, researchers from the George Institute for Global Health Sydney published an article on the contribution of the Y chromosome to the development of colorectal cancer and bladder cancer. More. here

New cause of cancer detected

In early June 2023, Australian scientists at Flinders University found a link between the risk of developing oncology and exposure to a recently discovered family of genetic fragments in human cells.

According to scientists, the first step in tumorigenesis is to acquire a repertoire of genetic mutations to initiate and maintain a malignant tumor. An important example of such an initiation step in acute leukemia is the formation of a potent oncogene from chromosomal translocations between the mixed-series leukemia (MLL) gene and one of the 100 translocation partners known as MLL recombin.

As scientists have established, specific ring ribonucleic acids can attach DNA to cells and cause mutations. As a result, they can provoke cancer. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a family of covalently closed, alternatively spliced RNA molecules, are enriched in the MLL recombinoma. In the next step, they can bind DNA to form circRNA: DNA (circR loops) hybrids at their cognitive loci. These circR loops promote transcriptional suspension, proteasome inhibition, chromatin reorganization, and DNA destruction. Importantly, overexpression of circRNAs in mouse models of leukemia xenotransplantation leads to colocalization of genomic loci, formation of "de novo" clinically relevant chromosomal translocations mimicking MLL recombin, and acceleration of disease onset. The findings from Flinders University researchers provide a fundamental insight into the acquisition of chromosomal translocations by endogenous RNA carcinogens in leukemia.

Study lead author Simon Conn reported that this is the first example that a genetic molecule that occurs in many people's bodies is capable of causing a mutation in DNA and provoking cancer from within. Conn added that the discovery provides an opportunity to use knowledge about these molecules to treat cancer at a very early stage, when the likelihood of healing from it is much higher.^[15]

2022: Chronic stress increases cancer death risk by 2.4 times

In early December 2022, wear and tear as a result of chronic and lifelong stress may also increase the likelihood of dying from cancer, according to researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at the University of Augusta.

This wear and tear, called allostatic load, refers to the cumulative effects of stress over time. According to the researchers, if you have chronic, persistent psychosocial stressors that never allow you to calm down, then this can lead to wear and tear of the body at a biological level.

The researchers analyzed more than 41 thousand participants in the National Study of Health and Nutrition, which was conducted from 1988 to 2019. Body mass index, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, hemoglobin A1C (higher levels indicate risk of diabetes), albumin and creatinine (both characterizing renal function), and C-reactive protein (an indicator of inflammation) are baseline biological measures that the researchers used to calculate allostatic burden. High allostatic load was defined as an indicator exceeding 3 points.

The national mortality index, which is maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was then compared with participants' data to determine who died of cancer and when. The researchers found that even without adjusting for potential factors such as age, social demographic characteristics such as race and gender, poverty-income ratio, educational attainment, people with high allostatic burden were 2.4 times more likely to die from cancer than people with low allostatic burden.

Even with age, scientists found that people with a high allostatic load had a 28% increased risk of dying from cancer. Adjusted for sociodemographic factors including gender, race, and educational attainment, a high allostatic burden resulted in a 21% increase. Further adjustment of the model to account for other risk factors such as smoking, previous heart attack, diagnosis of cancer or congestive heart failure resulted in a 14% increase.

The scientists investigated the association between allostatic burden and cancer mortality specifically among each racial/ethnic group (e.g., non-Hispanic blacks, non-Hispanic whites, and Hispanic adults). However, the allostatic burden did not have such a strong association when broken down into racial categories. These results can be explained by the huge size of the original sample.^[16]

2021: Cancer-causing substance found in sanitizers of 15 manufacturers

At the end of March 2021, it became known that some widely available hand disinfectants contain high levels of a chemical known to cause cancer. The problem was identified in the products of 15 manufacturers. Read more here.

2020: WHO: In 741 thousand cases of cancer, alcohol became the cause

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 741,300 cases of cancer in 2020, alcohol was the cause. Such statistics were published in July 2021.

Most often, alcohol led to cancer of the esophagus (190 thousand cases), liver (155 thousand cases), breast (98 thousand cases). They were followed by bowel, oral and throat cancers.

Most alcohol-induced cancers are associated with severe alcoholism. However, even moderate or low levels of alcohol consumption are not safe. For example, up to 10g of alcohol a day - and that amount corresponds to a small glass of wine - has led to 35 400 - 145 800 cases of cancer. Moderate alcohol consumption (less than 20 grams on average per day) gave 13.9% of all cases of "drunk" cancer. According to the WHO, alcohol in 2020 led to 568,700 cases of cancer in men and 172,600 in women.

This is not just another horror story related to cancer that can be ignored, "says Nino Berdzuli, director of the Country Programs Division at the WHO European Office. - We have very convincing facts that suggest that alcohol consumption even in small doses can cause the development of cancer. The use of all types of alcoholic beverages is associated with cancer, while the main carcinogenic substance contained in them is ethanol. The public should be aware of this.

Given that cancer has been developing for several years, scientists decided to use information on alcohol use across different countries in 2010. To do this, they looked at both survey data and information on alcohol sales. Cancer incidence data were taken from the GLOBOCAN 2020 database: the analysis used cancers whose association with alcohol use is known.^[17]

How the disease develops

2021: Cancer cells can hibernate while waiting for chemotherapy

In mid-January 2021, researchers reported that cancer cells could hibernate while waiting for chemotherapy. Using an ancient evolutionary survival mechanism, tumor cells slow life and almost stop dividing to survive the harsh conditions created by chemotherapeutic or other anti-cancer agents.

Dr. Catherine O'Brien of Princess Margaret Cancer Center and her team found that absolutely all cancer cells - not just part of them - could potentially hibernate until the threatening situation is addressed. The researchers also found that new therapeutic strategies specifically targeting cancer cells in a state of "hibernation" could prevent cancer recurrence.

The tumor acts as an entire organism capable of transitioning to a state of slow division, thereby conserving energy for survival, Dr O'Brien explained.

In the study, the scientists used human rectal cancer cells, acting on them with chemotherapeutic agents in the laboratory. The threat moved all cancer cells into the slow division phase, a condition in which the cells stopped growing and used minimal food to survive. While the chemotherapeutic agent was in the petri dish, the cancer cells remained in a state of "hibernation."

To move into this low-energy state, the cancer cells used an embryonic survival program used by more than 100 mammalian species to preserve embryos inside their bodies during extreme environmental conditions. At the same time, cell division slows down, metabolism decreases significantly and the development of the embryo is suspended. When environmental conditions improve, the embryo can continue normal development without any adverse effects.^[18]

Metastases

As it develops, cancer elements from the original focus begin to migrate around the body, moving with blood or lymphoma. After settling in tissues and bones, they develop secondary lesions called metastases.

Cancer treatment

Main article: Cancer treatment

• Free OMS cancer treatment
• Lung cancer treatment
• Ovarian cancer treatment
• Brachytherapy

• Drugs to treat cancer

Cancer vaccines

Main article: Cancer vaccines

Cancer mortality

Main article: Cancer deaths

Cancer prevention

• Cancer Prevention Foundation

How to reduce your cancer risk

You can reduce the risk of cancer by timely eliminating and modifying risk factors, said Irina Andreyashkina, deputy chief freelance specialist in oncology at the Moscow Department of Health, in March 2021.

According to the oncologist, studies have established that the contribution of various risk factors to the occurrence of cancer is unequal. For example, the elimination of such a factor as "poor nutrition" can reduce the risk by 2%, the transition to an active lifestyle - by 3%, refusal to abuse alcohol - by more than 5.5%.

Among the most dangerous risk factors are obesity, which can be eliminated by reducing the likelihood of developing tumors by almost 8%. However, smoking takes the first place by a significant margin - the elimination or modification of this risk factor prevents 19% of cancer. This is true not only for lung cancer, but also for 15 other forms of malignant tumors - from, for example, tumors of the lips and tongue to the bladder.

"The level and rate of risk reduction are different for different neoplasms, but the greatest decrease is observed within about 5 years after quitting smoking," said Irina Andreyashkina.

2021: Vaccine against any cancer based on tumor DNA successfully passed the first phase of trials

In mid-April 2021, it became known that vaccine the first phase of testing was successfully completed against any cancer based on tumor DNA. The personalized cancer vaccine developed by the company Mount Sinai did not cause safety concerns and demonstrated beneficial effects in patients with a variety of cancers, including and lung cancer bladder that have a high risk of recurrence. More. here

2020: Aspirin called good cancer prevention

In mid-April 2020, Italian scientists released the results of a study on ways to prevent tumors. One finding is that aspirin reduces the risk of some types of digestive system cancer, including those that almost always become incurable and fatal, such as liver or pancreatic cancer. 

Those who took aspirin twice a week were 27% less likely to see doctors with bowel cancer and 36% less likely to see stomach cancer, the study found. In addition, the risk of developing malignant tumors of the pancreas and esophagus decreased by 22% and 33%, respectively.

Scientists studied data from 113 studies devoted to the study of cancer, including 45 papers on 156 thousand cases of bowel cancer. Cancers of the head and neck, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas were also investigated.

An aspirin dose of 75 to 100 mg per day is associated with a 10 percent reduction in cancer risk. As the dose increases, the risk of cancer decreases even more. However, large doses of aspirin also increase the likelihood of gastric bleeding, Cristina Bosetti said.

According to her, it is necessary to use aspirin for preventive purposes only when prescribed by a doctor who must choose the correct dosage.

Earlier, the University of Utah published the results of its study, which showed that after taking aspirin in the blood of healthy people and cancer cells, the content of 2-hydroxyglutarate, which is one of the main onometabolites, decreases. In total, such a decrease was 12-34%.

Scientists observed the metabolic blood profile of 40 people who took aspirin for 60 days and noticed that this drug could be useful in preventing the onset of colon cancer. ^[19]]

Cancer economics

2019

Annual losses of Russia from cancer estimated at $8.1 billion

The economic losses of the economy Russia from premature deaths due to cancer are estimated at $8.1 billion a year, according to a study conducted by experts at the National Medical Research Center of Oncology named after Petrov of the Ministry of Health University of Tampere and the International Agency for the Study of Cancer.  World Health Organization The data was released in early August 2019.

The greatest economic damage among men is caused by lung cancer ($1.2 billion annually), among women - breast cancer ($0.64 billion). In addition, the economy suffered losses due to the mortality rate of men from stomach cancer ($0.52 billion) and women from cervical cancer ($0.34 billion).

The total amount of economic losses due to premature mortality from cancer in Russia is more than 0.2% of GDP.

It is predicted that economic losses as a result of mortality from cancer will grow faster in women (from $18.622 thousand to $22.386 thousand) than in men (from $25.064 thousand to $28.459 thousand). The researchers noted that due to cancer, Russian women live on average 18 years less, men - by 15 years. 

Scientists believe that mortality from cancer in Russia will decrease, and with it economic losses. So, in 2030, a loss of $7.5 billion is predicted.

At the same time, losses will grow as a result of mortality from cervical cancer in women (by $214 million each year), and cancer of the lip, mouth and throat in men (by $182 million each year).

Earlier, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation named the types of cancer that were most often diagnosed in 2018. So, in the first place - skin cancer (except for melanoma). Such cases recorded 78.5 thousand. The second line in terms of incidence is breast cancer (70.3 thousand cases). The department also clarified that cancer of the trachea, bronchi and lungs (55.7 thousand cases), prostate cancer (41.5 thousand) and cancer of the colon - the main part of the colon (40.1 thousand) are common^[20]

The world's largest social network for cancer patients receives millions from investors

In early July 2019, a startup Belong.Life based in Tel Aviv with an office New York and developing a social network for patients cancer attracted $14 million in investments. Taking into account this round of financing, the company received a total of $30 million from investors for its existence. More. here

World Cancer Day

In 2000, the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) was declared World Cancer Day on February 4. The purpose of the Day is to draw public attention to this global problem, recall how dangerous and widespread cancer is now, and significantly reduce cancer deaths.

Notes