The number of detected cancer cases rose to almost 20,000 annually in Slovakia in the second half of the 1990's. The occurrence of cancer has significantly increased among men, with lung cancer accounting for one-quarter of detected diseases and one-third of all male deaths, according to Ivan Garčár, head of the Health Ministry's press department.
Besides the lungs, the skin, stomach and prostate are the most commonly diseased male organs. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, causing 15.8% of female deaths in Slovakia. Cancer of the reproductive organs is also a significant problem.
The ministry appealed to people to practice more effective cancer prevention, particularly by quitting smoking. People should also reduce their alcohol consumption, forego sunbathing and cut down on obesity, Garčár said, adding that these preventitive measures could cut the number of cancer cases in half.
