Cancer is one of the greatest global health challenges. According to figures published this year by the World Health Organization, 20 million new cases of cancer and nearly 10 million deaths were recorded in 2022, making it one of the leading causes of death. common in the world. It is estimated that around one in five people develop the condition in their lifetime – and around one in nine men and one in twelve women die from it.
Cancers are a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells that develop into tumors. They can develop in different parts of the body and, in some cases, spread to other organs. The infographic below traces the evolution of mortality rates for the main cancers diagnosed in France since 1950 (for both sexes, based on the underlying cause appearing on death certificates). Lung cancer currently has the highest mortality rate, at 22.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2020, followed by colorectal cancer (10.1 per 100,000) and breast cancer (8.9 per 100 000). However, there have been several major developments in recent decades.
Mortality rates for colorectal cancer and stomach cancer, previously the two deadliest cancers in the country, have both declined significantly since the 1960s. This decline is largely attributed to advances in prevention and screening, as well as improving hygiene.
Conversely, lung cancer increased significantly during the 20th century, becoming by far the leading cause of cancer death. Having reached a peak at 28.0 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 1998, the lung cancer mortality rate has since been on a downward trajectory, with a drop of around five points over the last two decades in France.
Although we observe an overall decline in mortality due to cancer, certain types of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, have however seen their mortality rate increase in recent decades. In France, the latest report from the National Cancer Institute shows that between 1990 and 2023, the incidence of pancreatic cancer has, for example, increased by 300% in men and 370% in women. The National Cancer Institute estimates that pancreatic cancer could become the second leading cause of cancer mortality by 2030-2040, surpassing colorectal cancer and breast cancer.
