Breast Cancer: Breast cancer is a disease that ruins the lives of many women every year, however, it is a matter of relief for Indians that the rate of this disease is not the highest here. 

Countries With Highest Breast Cancer Rate: Poor and less developed countries are usually considered unsuccessful in preventing the disease, but a list has come in which 2 developed countries are at the top. Australia and New Zealand have been found to have the highest rate of breast cancer globally. In a new study, researchers from Australia and Canada analyzed breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in 185 countries. They found that globally 1 in 20 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and 1 in 70 women will die from this disease. 

Australia and New Zealand on top

However, the study found that the risk of breast cancer is not uniformly distributed across the world, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Science Media Exchange (Scimex) online news portal. "The incidence rate was highest in Australia and New Zealand, followed by North America and North Europe, and lowest in South Central Asia," the research paper said. It found that the age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) of breast cancer in Australia and New Zealand in 2022 was 100.3 cases per 100,000 people. In comparison, the ASIR in South Central Asia was 26.7 per 100,000 people.

Reason for high breast cancer rate

Nehmat Houssami, co-author of the study from the University of Sydney, said the high incidence rates in Australia and New Zealand could be attributed to their ageing populations as well as lifestyle risk factors such as alcohol consumption, low physical activity and obesity.

The ASMR for breast cancer was highest in Melanesia with 26.8 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Polynesia and Western Africa, and lowest in Eastern Asia with 6.5 deaths per 100,000 people. 

France has the highest lifetime risk

Of all the countries analysed, France had the highest lifetime risk of breast cancer diagnosis and Fiji had the highest lifetime risk of death. In 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI), setting a target for countries to reduce breast cancer mortality by 2.5 per cent annually.

Which are the safest countries?

New research found that only seven countries - Malta, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Slovenia - are meeting the GBCI targets. Australia and New Zealand have reduced mortality rates by 2.1 per cent annually over the last decade.

Breast cancer alert

research warns that breast cancer cases and deaths will increase by 38 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively, by 2050, disproportionately affecting countries with low Human Development Index (HDI) scores. The study authors urge urgent action to address growing inequalities in breast cancer survival rates worldwide, particularly in countries with low HDI scores.

Disclaimer: Dear reader, thank you for reading this news. This news has been written only to make you aware. We have taken the help of home remedies and general information in writing this. If you read anything related to your health anywhere, then definitely consult a doctor before adopting it.