Sweden's cancer incidence has increased by over 30% between 2012 and 2022, with men experiencing 667 new cases per 100,000 and women 518 new cases per 100,000 in 2022. Cancer mortality in Sweden is among the lowest in the EU at 207 per 100,000, compared to the EU average of 235 per 100,000. The gender gap in cancer mortality is the lowest among EU countries, with a difference of 54 deaths per 100,000 population.
While Sweden has relatively low prevalence of daily smoking and alcohol consumption compared to the EU, concerns exist regarding other risk factors such as overweight or obesity, occupational exposure, and low fruit consumption. Inequalities in overweight and obesity prevalence are high among adults but the gap between education levels is smaller than the EU average. Adolescent risk factor prevalence trends show lower levels of smoking, drunkenness, and obesity compared to the EU, but with increasing trends in fruit and vegetable consumption.
Sweden has three population-based screening programmes for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancers, with high participation rates. Most regions offer organised testing for prostate cancer, and pilot studies for lung cancer screening are ongoing. The Swedish National Cancer Strategy, established in 2009, aims to reduce cancer risk, improve patient quality of life, and minimize disparities. Cancer survival in Sweden has increased significantly over recent decades, with the five-year relative cancer survival rate reaching 78% for men and 76% for women in 2018-22.
The projected burden of cancer on health expenditure in Sweden is expected to be higher than the EU average, with cancer-specific health expenditure per capita projected to grow by 34% between 2023 and 2050. Sweden has a high density of nurses and physicians, but there are regional imbalances. Access to radiation therapy equipment is relatively low compared to the EU, and the volume has decreased by 22% since 2012. However, the share of oncology drugs reimbursed in Sweden is well above the EU average.
Inequalities exist in access to cancer rehabilitation and palliative care services in Sweden. The impact of cancer on life expectancy is expected to be lower in Sweden than in the EU, with cancer reducing average population life expectancy by 1.8 years between 2023 and 2050. While Sweden has increased investment in rehabilitation, there is no systematic monitoring of the quality of life among people with cancer at a national level.
