Josep M. Borràs
Scientific coordinator of the National Health System Cancer Strategy, director of the Catalan Oncology Plan and Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Barcelona
What do you think of the article overall? Is it of good quality?
‘The article is of high quality and has been produced in accordance with the usual methodology for this type of study. The authors are from an institution that is internationally recognised for this type of global estimation.’
How does it fit in with existing evidence and what new information does it provide? What implications could it have?
“There are two aspects to highlight:
- The countries where, in relative terms, the number of cancer cases will grow the most will be those with the lowest level of development. Therefore, these countries will face the challenge of cancer when they still have other infectious diseases as their main health problem. This is a very complex challenge to manage.
- The growth in the number of new cases will be very high as a result of demographic trends and existing risk factors, and we must make greater efforts in cancer prevention, along with improving the resources dedicated to diagnosis and treatment."
Are there any significant limitations to consider?
‘Those inherent in these estimates, which are based on demographic projections and do not take into account changes in risk factors (generally with a long-term impact and therefore only relevant at the end of the period) or treatments, but it is an internationally recognised and reliable methodology.’