Globcan 2018, a study carried out by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) with the purpose of analyzing the trend and international impact of the different types of cancer, exposed that Costa Rica is exceeding the average number of cases of prostate cancer.
The study shows that globally, there an estimate of one million new cases of prostate cancer with a projection of an average 29.3 per 100,000 inhabitants; however, in Costa Rica, the average is of 57.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
According to information published by the University of Costa Rica (UCR), data provided by Dr. Orlando Ordóñez Goñi, professor of the School of Medicine of the UCR and specialist in Urology of the San Juan de Dios Hospital, between 1995 and 2012 the number of cases grew a 77% and deaths as a result of this cancer also increased by 21%.
Information of the Ministry of Health shows that prostate cancer is the first and main cause of death in men over 40 years of age.
“The number of cases (of prostate cancer) has grown in Costa Rica, and we don’t understand why. We even have a higher incidence that that reported in the rest of the world and we don’t know if in reality we have more prostate cancer or if the Costa Rican health system is better in some way at diagnosing this disease. I am inclined to think that we have the advantage of having a social security system that covers the entire population and offers a good health service that leads to a better diagnose”, commented Dr. Ordoñez to the UCR.
The study shows that globally, there an estimate of one million new cases of prostate cancer with a projection of an average 29.3 per 100,000 inhabitants; however, in Costa Rica, the average is of 57.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
According to information published by the University of Costa Rica (UCR), data provided by Dr. Orlando Ordóñez Goñi, professor of the School of Medicine of the UCR and specialist in Urology of the San Juan de Dios Hospital, between 1995 and 2012 the number of cases grew a 77% and deaths as a result of this cancer also increased by 21%.
Information of the Ministry of Health shows that prostate cancer is the first and main cause of death in men over 40 years of age.
“The number of cases (of prostate cancer) has grown in Costa Rica, and we don’t understand why. We even have a higher incidence that that reported in the rest of the world and we don’t know if in reality we have more prostate cancer or if the Costa Rican health system is better in some way at diagnosing this disease. I am inclined to think that we have the advantage of having a social security system that covers the entire population and offers a good health service that leads to a better diagnose”, commented Dr. Ordoñez to the UCR.
