Cancers in Europe, risk and incidence vary according to the country of residence. The study

The incidence rates of lung cancer, broken down by sex, and cervical cancer in the 27 EU states were compared with the European averages and, for each country above the average, the number of excess cases was calculated

In Europe, the country of residence "significantly affects the risk of cancer". For the uterine cervix the incidence in Romania is more than seven times that of Malta; for lung, among women, Denmark exceeds Lithuania by more than four times. In 2024 the inequalities translate into 29,412 cases estimated in excess in EU countries with rates above the community average". This is revealed by the study "Impact of cancer inequalities in Europe on preventable cancers: focus on cervical and lung cancer", which Diego Serraino, epidemiologist and consultant of the Alliance Against Cancer (Acc), the national oncology network of the Ministry of Health chaired by Ruggero De Maria, presents in Madrid at the Congress Esmo 2026, organized by the European Society of Medical Oncology.

The data

The analysis is based on 2024 estimates from the European Cancer Information System (ECIS). The incidence rates of lung cancer, broken down by sex, and cervical cancer in the 27 EU states were compared with the European averages and, for each country above the average, the number of excess cases was calculated: a statistical measure of disparities, which does not equate to cancers that are certainly avoidable. "Lung, men: approximately 199 thousand new cases, average incidence of 89 per 100 thousand. They range from 38 in Sweden to 130 in Hungary, more than three times as much. In the 12 countries above the average, the excess cases are 11,105: Poland 3,934, Hungary 1,734, Romania 1,533, Greece 1,391, France 1,348. Lung, women: approximately 116 thousand new diagnoses, average incidence of 43 per 100 thousand. From 20 in Lithuania to 83 in Denmark, more than four times as much. In the 11 states above the average, the excess cases are 13,441: Germany 3,074, the Netherlands 3,069, Poland 1,978, Hungary 1,427, Denmark 1,325. For the lung the total is 24,546 excess cases. Uterine cervix: approximately 28 thousand new diagnoses, average incidence of 12 per 100 thousand women. Romania 36 cases per 100 thousand, Malta 5: ratio of 7.2 to 1. In the ten countries above the average the excess cases are 4,866: Romania 2,475, Poland 861, Bulgaria 407, Hungary 360, Portugal 263. The total of the three data is 29,412 diagnoses in excess of the European reference levels.

"These are indicators that must guide health policies"

For the lung, anti-smoking policies are crucial; for the uterine cervix, vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of neoplasia, and participation in screening, which allows pre-cancerous lesions to be identified early." "The results show how marked the disparities still are between European countries – observes Serraino – For some neoplasms, the incidence changes radically from one country to another. These are not just statistical differences: they are indicators that must guide health policies, especially when we have prevention tools capable of reducing the risk of developing these diseases."