PRESS RELEASE
Utrecht, embargo until 12.00 hours on 3 February 2015
Great increase in bowel cancer in 2014
In 2014, 15,000 people in the Netherlands developed bowel cancer: 8400 men and 6600
women. Compared with 2013 (13,400 new patients with bowel cancer), the number
increased by 1600, a raise of 12%. The total number of new patients with cancer in 2014
was 103,800, an increase of 2% compared with 2013.
Men are more likely to develop cancer than women (53.300 versus 50.500), but the
increase in 2014 was much larger in women (4% in women; 0.5% in men). This has
emerged from the first estimate based on data from the Netherlands Cancer Register
(NKR), which the Comprehensive Cancer Centre the Netherlands (IKNL) made on the
occasion of World Cancer Day.
Population screening for bowel cancer
Such a significant increase in bowel cancer has not been seen before in the Netherlands. In
2014, the phased implementation of population screening for bowel cancer was started. The
increase was seen in the age groups that received an invitation to take part in the screening
program. No increase was seen in the age groups that were not invited in 2014. Therefore, the
increase can almost completely be attributed to the introduction of the screening program.
One of the objectives of this screening program is to detect bowel cancer at an earlier stage.
This effect is also evident in the figures from the NKR. The proportion of patients with early
stage bowel cancer (stage I) rose from 18% in 2013 to 23% in 2014 and the proportion of
patients with late stage disease (stage IV) fell from 24% to 20%. If bowel cancer is detected in
an earlier stage, the chance of a cure is greater.
Partly on the basis of these figures from the IKNL, the National Institute for Public Health and
the Environment (RIVM) and Erasmus MC are evaluating the effect of population screening for
bowel cancer.
Most common types of cancer
The most commonly occurring type of cancer in the Netherlands in 2014 was skin cancer with
15,300 new cases (excluding basal cell carcinoma), followed by bowel cancer (in 2013 bowel
cancer was in the third place). In 2014, bowel cancer is followed by breast cancer (14,600),
lung cancer (11,900) and prostate cancer (9900).
Drop in prostate cancer
What is striking is the reduction in the number of new patients with prostate cancer, namely 9%
less than in 2013. 2014 is the third year in a row that the number of cases of prostate cancer
has dropped, while in the preceding decennia, prostate cancer showed a strong increase. The
drop in prostate cancer and to a lesser degree lung cancer in men has meant that the total
number of cases of cancer in men has only increased marginally (0.5%), compared with an
increase of 4% in women.
About the NKR
Since 1989, the Netherlands has had a database with reliable, objective data on the incidence,
prevalence, survival and mortality in all cases of cancer. The database is used for epidemiology
research, clinical studies and for studies on the quality of patient care. These data are also
available for evaluating screening, for oncology guidelines and for developing policy by care
institutions and government. The IKNL manages the database.
The latest figures will be published at www.cijfersovercancer.nl on World Cancer Day (4
February).
NOTE FOR THE EDITORIAL STAFF – NOT FOR PUBLICATION
For further information, please contact: press officer Ellen van Rooij, 06 4344 8029
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