Women's cancer: Like six jumbo jets crashing every day

Cancer may be killing more women in developing countries than childbirth. A new study shows that while childbirth is becoming safer, cancer is spreading among women, especially breast and cervical cancers.

LOS ANGELES, (Catholic Online) - More than 60 developing countries were evaluated in the study conducted by researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. The study marks the first global review of breast and cervical cancer.

In 1980, the number of estimated cases was 641,000. In 2010, that number had rose to 1.6 million. The figure was compiled using data from 187 countries and modern modeling techniques. It is a much higher estimate than the World Health Organization's figure of 900,000 for 2008. No matter which number one wishes to use, the diseases are significant. 

What is perhaps the only good news of the report, is that while the diseases are spreading in developing countries, death rates are declining. Researchers credit improved and regular screening methods for the decline. 

Officials estimate that a third of a million women die each year during childbirth. However, that number is half of the toll cancer takes. Breast cancer kills around 425,000 women each year and cervical cancer another 200,000. 

There are some explanations for what's going on. The world's aging female population is living longer, but that also means more cases of breast cancer since older women are more likely to develop the disease. Also, poor diets around the world, fatty foods, sedentary lifestyles, and smoking are also leading to an increase in cancers. 

In a commentary accompanying the study, Jan Coebergh, a specialist at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, explained the urgency to address these diseases. To illustrate the impact, she said, "It's like six jumbo jets crashing every day.''

The study was paid for by Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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