Cancer Epidemiology
The risk of cancer has changed over time. Some cancers that were once common have become rare. For example, 60 years ago in some countries, stomach cancer was four times more frequent than it is today, probably because people are now consumes far fewer smoked, spicy and outdated. Another example is lung cancer, which has increased a lot (20 times), especially in women. It is almost certain that these changes are the result of increased consumption of cigarettes. The snuff has also caused an increase in cancers of the mouth.
Age is an important factor in cancer development. Some types of cancer such as Wilms’ tumor, acute lymphocytic leukemia and Burkitt’s lymphoma almost exclusively affect young people. The reason why these cancers occur in young people is not well understood, but genetic predisposition is one of the factors. However, most cancers are more common in older people. Many, such as prostate, stomach and colon, are more likely to occur after age 60. In developed countries, over 60 percent of cancers occur in people over 65 years. The risk of developing cancer doubles every five years after 25 years of age. The increased rate of cancer in the population is probably due to a combination of increased and prolonged exposure to carcinogens associated with a weakened immune system, and all relating to a longer life.