Introduction: As Europe’s population continues to age, cancer incidence and mortality are expected to rise substantially. Despite this trend, evidence supporting age-appropriate prevention strategies, particularly screening recommendations, remains limited. To address this gap, this study examines the cancer burden among adults in Europe and compares those who are eligible for cancer screening with those who have exceeded the upper age limits of those programs.
Objectives: (1) To describe the burden of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer among European adults, comparing screening-eligible and post-screening age groups, and examining geographic patterns; (2) To contextualize findings in relation to screening programs and participation rates.
Methods: We extracted data related to breast, cervical and colorectal cancer from GLOBOCAN 2022 and screening participation data from Eurostat. The age group eligible for screening was defined according to the 2003 European Council recommendations: 50–69 years for breast cancer, 30-64 for cervical cancer and 50-74 for colorectal cancer. Older adults were defined as adults exceeding the upper age limit of the respective screening program. Age-standardized (World standard population) incidence and mortality rates, as well as screening participation rates were presented by age group and country.
Key results: As shown in Figure 1, a clear east–west divide was observed in the screening?eligible age group for breast and cervical cancer, with lower breast cancer incidence and higher cervical cancer incidence in Eastern countries compared to Western and Northern countries, partly coinciding with screening participation rates. Countries with higher breast cancer incidence rates generally exhibited lower mortality rates (Panels A and J). In contrast, for cervical cancer, countries with higher incidence rates also showed higher mortality rates (Panels B and K). This east-west divide was less pronounced in older adults, suggesting variability across countries in diagnosis and treatment. For colorectal cancer, among screening-eligible adults, incidence and mortality rates reflected the presence and implementation of national population-based screening programs. In the older age group, the incidence pattern paralleled the mortality one, with lower rates in Eastern Europe and higher rates in Western Europe (Panel F and O).
Conclusions: Regional patterns in cancer burden by age groups were observed and related to screening practice. This study provides new insights into the cancer burden of “screenable” cancers by comparing individuals eligible for screening and those who are no longer eligible, and by contextualizing these findings with cancer screening data across European countries.
Objectives: (1) To describe the burden of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer among European adults, comparing screening-eligible and post-screening age groups, and examining geographic patterns; (2) To contextualize findings in relation to screening programs and participation rates.
Methods: We extracted data related to breast, cervical and colorectal cancer from GLOBOCAN 2022 and screening participation data from Eurostat. The age group eligible for screening was defined according to the 2003 European Council recommendations: 50–69 years for breast cancer, 30-64 for cervical cancer and 50-74 for colorectal cancer. Older adults were defined as adults exceeding the upper age limit of the respective screening program. Age-standardized (World standard population) incidence and mortality rates, as well as screening participation rates were presented by age group and country.
Key results: As shown in Figure 1, a clear east–west divide was observed in the screening?eligible age group for breast and cervical cancer, with lower breast cancer incidence and higher cervical cancer incidence in Eastern countries compared to Western and Northern countries, partly coinciding with screening participation rates. Countries with higher breast cancer incidence rates generally exhibited lower mortality rates (Panels A and J). In contrast, for cervical cancer, countries with higher incidence rates also showed higher mortality rates (Panels B and K). This east-west divide was less pronounced in older adults, suggesting variability across countries in diagnosis and treatment. For colorectal cancer, among screening-eligible adults, incidence and mortality rates reflected the presence and implementation of national population-based screening programs. In the older age group, the incidence pattern paralleled the mortality one, with lower rates in Eastern Europe and higher rates in Western Europe (Panel F and O).
Conclusions: Regional patterns in cancer burden by age groups were observed and related to screening practice. This study provides new insights into the cancer burden of “screenable” cancers by comparing individuals eligible for screening and those who are no longer eligible, and by contextualizing these findings with cancer screening data across European countries.
Age?standardized incidence and mortality rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer in 2022 by screening?eligible and above?limit age groups, with 2021 screening participation rates.