Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates in the U.S. and 10 European Countries

Krista E. Garcia, University of Southern California

Substantial proportions of cancer cases and deaths are attributable to breast, prostate and colorectal cancer in the U.S. and Europe; however, national screening guidelines and practices are incongruent. Recent analysis of the risks and benefits of screening have questioned the mortality benefit of aggressive screening practices in the U.S. Our study uses national survey data and population-based cancer data from Cancer Incidence in Five Continents I-IX and the WHO Mortality Database to compare age-specific cancer screening, incidence, and mortality rates between the U.S. and nine European countries. Joinpoint regression is used to examine if age-specific breast, prostate and colorectal cancer mortality rates declined at a faster rate in the U.S. than in Europe from 1980-2005. We address the question of whether differences in mortality rates can be attributed to differences in screening rates and the widespread use of screening tests for early detection and treatment.