Increase in the Number of Deaths from Lung and Breast Cancer between 1960 and 1985

Abstract

Our country has seen an increase of 298% in deaths lung cancer among males and of 178% by breast cancer among females between 1960 and 1985. The method proposed by Devesa and Schneirdeirman in 1977 has been used to distinguish, within these increases, the effect produced by changes in the demographic structure of the population from the effects owing to a real change in the risk of death at differente ages. Using this method of analysis, it has been shown that the increased risk of death accounted for 3.433 deahts of males among the 10.085 caused by lung cancer in 1985 and for 1.235 of the 4.293 deaths of females caused by breast cancer. The number of dealths is even greater if the combined effect of altered risk with age structure and population size is taken into account. The use of the methodology applied here is proposed for .? the assessmenot f certain health measures.