Around 390,700 new cancer cases have been diagnosed in Italy this year, an increase of 14,100 with respect to 2020, according to a report presented at the health ministry on Monday.
While the resumption of screening activities after the peak of the COVID-19 emergency in part explains the increase, the report also sounded the alarm about lifestyle factors that raise the risk of people developing the disease.
It said that 33% of adults in Italy are overweight, while 10% are obese, 24% smoke and the proportion of people leading sedentary lifestyles increased from 23% in 2008 to 31% in 2021.
The report, entitled “The numbers of cancer in Italy 2022”, was produced by Italian Oncologists Association (AIOM) in collaboration with several other entities.
