A study, published in the Annals of Oncology, examined Europe's colorectal cancer mortality rate, estimating that 2018 mortality rates for most cancers are supposed to fall by 7 percent when compared to 2012 rates.
Colorectal cancer will account for the second highest mortality rate in the European Union in 2018, with approximately 177,400 dying from the disease.
Although the number of CRC-related deaths has risen since 2012, the age-standardized rates will decrease by 6.7 percent in men to 15.8 per 100,000 people and by 7.5 percent in women to 9.2 per 100,000 people.
Researchers found the use of aspirin and effective screenings have decreased CRC incidence rates. Colonoscopy is widely available throughout Europe.
Carlo La Vecchia, MD, a professor of medicine at Milan, Italy-based University of Milan, said, "Colorectal cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among non-smokers in both men and women. The fall in mortality that we are predicting for 2018, has been one of the major success stories in clinical oncology. This improvement in death rates in Europe comes in the absence of a single major breakthrough and is due to [improve] diagnosis and management of the disease."