New Regional Dynamic Cancer Model across the European Union

SIMPLE SUMMARY: At the European level, the incidence and mortality rates of various types of cancer have been increasing since the 1990s (after the fall of the former Communist Bloc). EU member states have had to allocate substantial funds to fight and treat cancers, but the effects are far from what were expected and there is an increased awareness of the disease among the population. The numerous studies carried out in the literature show the interest of researchers in this field and support our present scientific approach. Our study aimed to conceptualise a dynamic regional cancer model projected at the European level for the period 1993–2021, showing the impact of increasing economic welfare and financial allocations to health on disease incidence and mortality rates. The results of the study demonstrate that there are significant differences in these influences on the male and female population, which are also influenced by the type of cancer. ABSTRACT: Background: Can increasing levels of economic wealth significantly influence changes in cancer incidence and mortality rates? Methods: We investigated this issue by means of regression analyses based on the study of incidence and mortality indicators for lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal; colon; pancreatic; lung; leukaemia; brain and central nervous system cancers in correlation with the levels of economic welfare and financial allocations to health at the level of the European Union member states, with the exception of Luxembourg and Cyprus for which there are no official statistical data reported. Results: The results of the study showed that there were significant disparities both regionally and by gender, requiring corrective public policy measures that were formulated in this study. Conclusions: The conclusions highlight the main findings of the study in terms of the evolution of the disease, present the significant aspects that characterise the evolution of each type of cancer during the period analysed (1993–2021), and highlight the novelty and limitations of the study and future directions of research. As a result, increasing economic welfare is a potential factor in halting the effects of cancer incidence and mortality at the population level, while the financial allocations to health of EU member countries’ budgets are a drawback due to large regional disparities.