Three out of four people who get cancer in Norway survive. This is shown by new figures from the Cancer Registry. More focus on prevention, earlier diagnosis, as well as more and better forms of treatment are given as reasons. For Lars Bjerke, it was quite by chance that he received the cancer diagnosis. His father pushed him to check himself. “Then I have to take a finger test like this on your ass” was the message from the doctor. Bjerke thought he had to endure that. – Then they call and ask if you can come for an interview. Then you know something is happening here. Lars Bjerke works as a veterinarian. Photo: Nadir Alan / news It was only when he got the results of the biopsy that it became clear. He had prostate cancer. In 2023, there were over 5,000 men who received this diagnosis in Norway. A total of around 38,000 cancer cases were registered last year, according to the Directorate of Health. A ticking bomb – That cancer word. It really sits in the spinal cord. You become so desperate, because you don’t want to sit with cancer growing in your body, says Bjerke. The 51-year-old felt like he had a ticking bomb inside him. He feared the worst, and that he would lose potency and have leakage problems afterwards. Fortunately, the cancer was detected early enough that it had not spread. Bjerke also avoided going through radiotherapy. There was an operation, and the challenges lined up. Now he feels lucky. – Extremely lucky. I feel that almost every day. – No one knows that they will get that cancer. A screening program must be put in place, says Lars Bjerke. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Discovered earlier It is a national target that at least six out of ten cancer patients should receive a cancer diagnosis at an early stage. – The results for the last ten years show that more people are being diagnosed early in the course of the disease, says Divisional Director in the Directorate of Health Hilde Myhren. In 2023, this proportion was 58 per cent. In comparison, 51 per cent of cancer cases were discovered in early 2014. Division director in the Directorate of Health Hilde Myhren. Photo: Dragana Njegic / Directorate of Health One in three has tendon injuries Around one in three cancer patients has tendon injuries. That’s what Ole Alexander Opdalshei, assistant general secretary of the Cancer Association, says. Among those who get prostate cancer, the proportion is somewhat higher. The type of late damage the individual is affected by varies. Low mood, fatigue, urine leakage and erectile dysfunction are some examples. – It is important to say that these late injuries can vary in scope and intensity. Some of them also eventually give up. Assistant general secretary of the Cancer Association Ole Alexander Opdalshei. Photo: Bård Nafstad Looking for better help At the same time that Lars Bjerke was affected by prostate cancer, he was close to two people who had a much tougher race. Both the father and his friend were diagnosed so late that the cancer had spread. – No one knows that they will get that cancer. It’s just there. So picking them out before they start to spread is important. A screening program must be put in place, says Bjerke. The most common forms of cancer Prostate, breast, lung and bowel cancer are the four most common forms of cancer in Norway. Together, they accounted for around half of all cases of cancer detected last year. This is how many survive for five years or more: 96 per cent: Prostate cancer 93 per cent: Breast cancer 70 per cent: Bowel cancer 30 per cent: Lung cancer The figures are based on an estimate from 2023. Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health and Cancer Registry Norwegian authorities recommend active monitoring of patients with prostate cancer without spread, and not necessarily surgery. Hilde Myhren in the Directorate of Health believes that it may be possible to live with the cancer – if it is not aggressive. – Then the negative consequences of surgery can be more burdensome for the patient, such as impotence or urine leakage after a surgical procedure. Published 26/09/2024, at 20.01
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More people survive cancer, according to the Directorate of Health – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
