The most recent data reveals a 7 percent increase in cancer cases among men and a 2 percent rise among women, potentially attributed to missed screenings during lockdowns, as reported by the NHS. The total number of cancer diagnoses has surged by 5 percent in just a year, with prostate cancer being the main driver of the sharp increase in men, according to the latest statistics. In England alone, 346,217 new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2022, translating to 948 new cases daily, up from 329,664 in 2021. Women saw a 2 percent overall increase in cases, from 161,747 to 165,340. The spike in men’s diagnoses was primarily due to a significant increase in prostate cancer cases, which rose by over a quarter to 54,732. The data also revealed that more men were diagnosed with cancer compared to women.
In 2022, prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer, accounting for over half of all new cancer cases. A campaign dubbed the ‘Missing Men’ campaign was launched to locate men who had skipped their recommended screenings during the lockdown period. An estimated 14,000 fewer men were diagnosed with prostate cancer than expected in England and Scotland between April 2020 and December 2021. Factors such as aging, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking are believed to increase the risk of cancer, although the exact cause remains unknown.
The NHS attributed the higher diagnosis figures partly to its public information campaigns in 2022, urging people to undergo screenings post-lockdown. Some oncologists have raised concerns about a potential link between COVID-19 vaccines, specifically booster shots, and the development of aggressive cancers or relapses in previously healthy patients. Booster shots are currently offered to individuals over 75 and those deemed clinically vulnerable. Despite the rise in diagnoses, cancer death rates in both men and women have declined over the years.
NHS National Cancer Director Dame Cally Palmer emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment in saving lives. The increase in cancer rates is not unique to England, as many other countries, including the United States, have also reported a surge in new cancer cases, particularly among younger individuals. Please rewrite this sentence.
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