European downturn seen pushing up cancer rates

LONDON (Reuters) – The economic downturn threatens to raise cancer rates in Europe as lifestyles change, budgets are cut, and private and public sector employers take short cuts on safety, public health experts said Monday. The number of deaths from cancer is falling in the region but prevention efforts are lagging behind, with new cases up by almost 20% to 2.5 mln in 2008 from 2.1 mln in 2002, the European Cancer Organization (ECCO) says.