Statistics released this week show that cancer death rates in Switzerland are far higher for men than women. The data covering the period from 2011 to 2015 show men are 29% more likely to suffer from cancer and 27% more likely to die from it. Cancer is Switzerland’s second biggest killer after heart disease.
The incidence and survival rates of breast and prostate cancer, two gender specific cancers, are roughly the same. 116 men per 100,000 get prostate cancer and 111 women per 100,000 get breast cancer. Death rates for these cancers are similar too: 22 per 100,000 for men and 21 per 100,000 for women.
So where are the big differences?
The six cancers accounting for most of the cancer mortality difference between men and women are lung (+71%), mouth and throat (+139%), oesophagus (+215%) colon (+24%), liver (+130%) and bladder cancer (+151%).
The causes of cancer are complex however, men in Switzerland are more likely than women to be overweight or obese (51% vs 32%), smoke (32% vs 24%), consume alcohol daily (17% vs 9%) and eat a poor diet – only 12% of men eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables compared to 26% of women1.
Smoking is closely associated mouth, throat, oesophagus, lung and bladder cancer – these account for 34% of male cancer deaths. Men are 127% more likely to die from these cancers than prostate cancer.
Alcohol and obesity are linked to liver cancer, which accounts for 6% of male cancer deaths. And, colon cancer, which accounts for 11% of male cancer deaths, is associated with smoking, alcohol and high fat low fibre diets.
According to the Movember foundation, a charity promoting mens health by encouraging men to grow moustaches in return for donations, men often ignore their own health. Scott Poynton, who lives near Nyon, encourages people to walk from his home town of Gingins to the top of the Dôle every Thursday in November to raise money for the charity. He welcomes everyone to join him, his moustache, and his dog Finn on these Thursday walks. If you’re interested contact Scott via this Facebook event page.