Do non-industrialized nations have cancer?

[Pastore]

I have been looking for reports on this subject. Sure there are tons of reasons cancers are rampant in the US... But is it a big deal in thirld world type countires which in general have cleaner air and things? Just curious, what are your thoughts?

 

[MajesticMoose]

I wouldn't be so sure about the cleaner air or the "things." But to answer your question, yes of course they do. Cancer affects all human populations. It doesn't rely on industry, although that may help it along in some cases.

m00se

 

[Elledan]

In most third-world countries, cancer is hardly an issue. Not because the people don't get cancer, but because most people die before they can die of cancer. You must not forget that in those countries, few people become older than 50-60 years.

 

[Beattie]

I would guess that even if it was a big problem, it would go undetected a lot.

 

[Amused]

<< In most third-world countries, cancer is hardly an issue. Not because the people don't get cancer, but because most people die before they can die of cancer. You must not forget that in those countries, few people become older than 50-60 years. >>



Um, where did you hear this?

From the World Health Organization's 50 Facts From the World Health Report 1998:



<< 40. Cancer will remain one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Only one-third of all cancers can be cured by earlier detection combined with effective treatment.

41. By 2025 the risk of cancer will continue to increase in developing countries, with stable if not declining rates in industrialized countries.

43. Cervical cancer is expected to decrease further in industrialized countries due to screening. The incidence is almost four times greater in the developing world. The possible advent of a vaccine would greatly benefit both the developed and developing countries. >>



Hardly an issue?

 

[mithrandir2001]

Wow, I read the subject title and thought you were being sarcastic, but I guess you are not.

Cancer knows no boundaries. It inflicts humans around the globe.

Third World countries certainly do not have cleaner air than the US does, contrary to how the media portrays ir.

 

[heartsurgeon]

don't assume that the incidence of cancers reported in third world countries is accurate.
you need money and resources to diagnose a disease like cancer in a person, and its unlikely that a lot of autopsies are being performed in third world countries either.
so tell me just how they are making the diagnosis and tracking their cancer rates.
my bet is that they all have higher cancer rates (along with higher infection rates, etc, etc) at any age, but they are just underreporting it, because they don't make the diagnosis, and don't track it.

 

[gopunk]

i once heard that if you live long enough, you'll eventually die of cancer.

 

[p0ntif]

As was stated in different words by several of the posters here, this is an epidemiological question.

The question is wether or not non-industrialized nations have cancer.

Fistly, I would like to say that cancer is a not necessarily due to just pollutants, but also to virii, hereditary genetic defects (activated oncogenes), not to mention Uv exposure (sunshine). Papiloma virus alone greatly increases your chances of getting cancer. To presume that a nation would not have cancer because they do not have pollutants is absurd.

Secondly, If one were to compare the tabulated occurances of cancer in the united states, as opposed to some third world country, one may be able to see that the incidence (or prevalence) of cancer in the U.S. is greater than that in the 3rd world country. This is most likely due to under-reporting as hearsurgeon pointed out. If a country is non-industrialized, it is not likely that they have up to date medical facilities able to diagnose cancer, and also it is likely that many people don;t even go to a hospital or see a physician.

In conclusion, what you are asking is answerable by my first point alone. It is probably not very possible to get a good estimate of cancer in a third world country without sending in a epidemiological team with qualified physicians to test samples of the population for a good estimate.

hope that answers your question