Date Published: 06/02/2026
Cancer diagnoses in Murcia rising fast with one new case every hour
ARCHIVED ARTICLE -
Health officials warn numbers are climbing steadily as prevention and early detection remain key
Cancer is now being diagnosed at a rate of roughly one case every hour in the
Region of Murcia, according to new figures published this week by the regional Health Ministry. The latest Epidemiological Bulletin estimates that 9,417 people will be diagnosed with cancer in the community this year, which works out at around 26 new cases every day.
The report was released to coincide with Cancer Day, marked on Wednesday February 4, and paints a clear picture of a disease burden that continues to grow. Health experts say cancer cases in the region have increased by around 21 percent over the past six years, with prostate cancer now the most common diagnosis in men and breast cancer the most frequent in women.
Based on data from the population-based Cancer Registry of the Region of Murcia, specialists expect 5,396 of this year’s new cases to be in men and 4,021 in women. That represents 380 more diagnoses than in 2025, an annual rise of just over 4 percent. Compared with 2019, the year before the pandemic, overall cases are up by around 20 percent.
Among men, prostate cancer leads the figures with 1,114 expected cases, followed by lung, bladder and colon cancers. In women, breast cancer accounts for almost a third of diagnoses, with lung, colon and uterine cancers next most common. Digestive cancers, including pancreatic, liver and stomach cancer, also feature prominently across both sexes.
Health officials stress that lifestyle factors remain crucial. “One third of cancer deaths are preventable,” the Health Department reminds residents, pointing to tobacco, alcohol consumption, obesity and sedentary lifestyles as major risks. Smoking alone is responsible for around 90 percent of lung cancer cases, while alcohol increases the risk of several cancers even at low levels. “There is no safe level of alcohol consumption,” officials warn.
Despite the increase in numbers, survival rates continue to improve. In Murcia, five-year survival stands at around 60 percent for adults and 85.5 percent for children. Officials credit prevention, early diagnosis and advances in treatment, supported by around 400 active cancer research studies in the region.
Image: Archive
article_detail
|
Welcome To
Visit Lorca Castle.Click Here
Santo Ángel residential care home provides assisted living, nursing and rehabilitative therapy for the elderly in Murcia in a comfortable and homely setting, so you and your loved ones can get the level of care you need and deserve.
