JAccording to current statistics, the poorer people are, the earlier they will develop cancer. The unpublished oncology report states: “Men and women with lower socioeconomic status have an average of seven years earlier than those with higher socioeconomic status.” An ok Rhineland/Hamburg, available in the Rhein Post. This difference can be seen in all types of cancer, without exception.
For example, women with a monthly pension of less than 800 euros get breast cancer for the first time at the age of 72.8. In contrast, according to the study, the average age of women with a pension of more than 1,600 euros is 80.4 years.
The problem with colon cancer in men is similar: pensioners with a monthly income of less than 800 euros were on average only 71.3 years old when they were diagnosed with colon cancer. However, for men over 1,600 euros, the age of onset is 77.6 years.
AOK writes: “The risk factors for people with low socioeconomic status are a higher proportion of smokers, less physical activity, poor eating habits, and an increased prevalence of obesity.” Obesity describes severe or pathological overweight.
Too little for early detection
AOK reports that the participation rate for early detection offers is less than 50%. Women’s frequency of receiving preventive health care is significantly higher than that of men. There are also major regional differences.
According to the report, by 2020, the year of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the use of prevention programs will drop by 20% from previous years. “This shows that there is still considerable potential, especially among men, to raise awareness of the importance of early detection,” said Günter Waltermann, head of AOK Rheinland/Hamburg.
