Denmark Is Cancer Capital of the World – Why?

Denmark may have one of the best standards of living in the world, but it also has the dubious distinction of being the cancer capital of the world.

denmark cancer capitalOne of the reasons why the highest rates of cancer in the world are found to be present in Denmark is the fact that when it comes to diagnosing the disease, the record is very good.

In other words, the doctors there are more efficient at picking out cancer sufferers and indentifying their disease, more than most other parts of the world.

Additionally there are lifestyle related factors that contribute to Denmark being the cancer capital of the world – a higher than average number of Danish women smoke; also higher proportions of people in the country are known to drink alcohol. Both smoking and drinking are indicators of increased cancer risk.

In any case, cancer seems to be a casualty of higher income countries or more developed areas of the world, since people there are likelier to be overweight, inactive and drink alcohol.

As many as 13 European countries and others such as USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia are among the top 20 countries with the highest cancer rates, according to a WHO report.