Cancer in Germany2009/2010

Abstract

The “Cancer in Germany” report is published every two years by the Association of Population-based Cancer Registries in Germany (GEKID) and the German Centre for Cancer Registry Data (ZfKD) at the Robert Koch Institute. The results contained in this, the ninth edition are based on data up to 2010. In the meantime, population-based cancer registration has achieved nationwide coverage in Germany. However, because reliable data is not yet available from all federal states, it is still necessary for the ZfKD to estimate figures in some areas. Included for the first time in this edition are chapters on pleura mesothelioma and vulvar cancer. Altogether, this report presents the most important epidemiological measured values and current trends for 26 different types of cancer. Details are contained with regard to disease incidence and mortality, along with regional and international comparisons, as well as illustrations of the distribution of tumour stages and of survival prospects. As in earlier editions, details on cancer in children are presented in a separate chapter by the German Childhood Cancer Registry. For the year 2010, the number of new cases of cancer in Germany was estimated by the ZfKD at approximately 477,300, of which 252,400 cases were among men and 224,900 in women. This means the number of new cases annually has increased by around 71,500 since the year 2000. This is primarily to be attributed to the continually growing proportion of older people within our population. The most frequently occurring types of cancer are breast cancer with around 70,300 new cases, prostate cancer (just under 66,000) and bowel cancer (62,400). Among women an increase is to be reported in the age-standardised incidence rates for breast cancer and malignant melanoma, as well as for tumours of the lung, thyroid, vulva, oral cavity and pharynx. Declining incidence rates were observed in cancerous diseases of the stomach, gall bladder and biliary tract, the bowel and the ovaries. In men, incidence rates since the year 2000 have increased with regard to malignant melanoma, prostate cancer and liver cancer whereas in contrast incidence rates fell in tumours of the stomach, lungs, oesophagus and the bladder. For 2014, the ZfKD estimates about half a million new cases of cancer in Germany.