Cancer epidemiology in Hungary and the Bela Johan National Program for the decade of health

According to a recent survey, in 1995 Hungary lead cancer mortality statistics in men in Europe, while was on the second place in the case of women. The figures for cancer morbidity were highly similar. According to cancer types, the Hungarian mortality rates are the worst in the case of lung, oral cavity, laryngeal and pancreatic cancers among men and oral cavity, colorectal and thyroid cancers in women. Between 1999 and 2001 in Hungary the cancer mortality list is topped by lung and colorectal cancers among men and by breast and colorectal cancers among women. The National Cancer Registry started to provide reliable morbidity data which indicate that in 2001 in Hungary the men's most frequent cancer types are lung, colorectal and lip and mouth cancers while among women breast, colorectal and lung cancers. These shocking cancer mortality and morbidity figures outlined the primary targets of the recently lunched national public health program for this decade.