The decline in cancer mortality in the European Union: 1988-1996

After the peak rate reached in 1988, moderate but steady declines were obse rved over the last decade in total cancer mortality rates in the European U nion (EU). Such a decline was over 7% for both sexes combined over the peri od of 1985-1996 (i.e. from 147.0 to 136.4/100 000, world standard populatio n). The declines in cancer mortality correspond to the avoidance of approxi mately 70 000 deaths in 1996 in the EU compared with the 1988 rates. The ma jor determinants of these favourable trends were lung (-7.7%), stomach (-24 .8%), intestines (-12.4%), breast (-7.1%), uterus, mainly cervix (-20.6%), and leukaemias (-8.3%) and, after 1992, a levelling off of prostate cancer rates. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.