Science and Health

Cancer rate doubles in Australia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-04 15:25

SYDNEY: Rising levels of obesity and delayed effects of smoking were behind a major increase in cancer rates, Chief executive of Cancer Council Australia, Professor Ian Olver said on Thursday.

Australia's rate of oesophageal cancer had more than doubled in 25 years and the cause was mostly lifestyle-related and therefore preventable.

"This is a big concern, not just in Australia but in many other countries where increasing affluence is being accompanied by expanding waistlines," Olver said in a statement to mark World Cancer Day 2010 (February 4).

"Oesophageal cancer is a good example of how Australia is falling short of our potential to prevent cancer through lifestyle change, with 37 percent of cases attributed to obesity and more than 45 percent caused by smoking."

Olver said although community-wide smoking rates were declining slowly, rates of related illness were rising as the ramifications of tobacco use were only just emerging for many long-time smokers.

The number of Australians who were overweight or obese was also in a "disturbing" upward trend, he said, in a call for all tiers of government to do more in the area of prevention initiatives.

"Federal, state and territory government's must show genuine commitment to work together to reduce the impact of a disease responsible for more premature death in Australia than any other cause," he said.