Greece has the highest cancer mortality rate in Europe and the second highest among OECD countries, according to a new study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The report estimates that 343 people per 100,000 inhabitants die from cancer annually in Greece, compared with a European average of 271. Among the 43 countries surveyed, only Japan recorded a higher mortality rate.
Konstantinos Syrigos, a professor of pathology and oncology at the University of Athens Medical School, said the figures reflect a combination of lifestyle factors, shortcomings in prevention and delays in treatment.
The study found Greece performs worse than the European average on several key cancer risk factors. Smoking prevalence stands at 29%, compared with 24% across Europe, while 34% of adults are obese, versus a European average of 25%. About 40% of Greek adults do not engage in sufficient physical activity, compared with 28% across Europe.
Air pollution is also higher than average, with exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) reaching 14 micrograms per cubic meter, compared with 11 across Europe. Only 12% of adults consume adequate amounts of fruit and vegetables daily.
“As it turns out, the issue is multifactorial,” Syrigos said. “We do not follow a healthy lifestyle and we continue to smoke. Cancer is largely linked to environmental and lifestyle factors, while heredity plays a relatively small role.”
He said Greece also lags behind in the early diagnosis of lung, colorectal and prostate cancers, partly because screening programs have not become embedded in the prevention culture to the same extent as mammography.
Syrigos further pointed to delays in the healthcare system, saying patients often wait months to begin treatment due to a lack of coordinated care and patient-navigation services.
While Greece has improved access to innovative cancer treatments and clinical trials in recent years, challenges remain for patients living in remote areas, highlighting the need for expanded telemedicine services, he said.
