Cancer prevalence and screening challenges in Switzerland and North Macedonia

A study published in Swiss Medical Weekly reveals that the number of people living with a cancer diagnosis in Switzerland has nearly doubled over the last 20 years. By the end of 2025, approximately 495,000 people, or 5.5 percent of the population, are expected to be living with the disease. Researchers from the University of Zurich and the National Institute for Epidemiology and Cancer Registry (NICER) attribute this increase to an aging population, earlier diagnosis through preventive checks, and improved treatment options, which allow more patients to survive long-term.

In North Macedonia, significant gaps in cancer screening programs persist. While lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths, there are no national screening programs in place. Audits of the State Audit Institution for the period 2021–2024 found extremely low coverage for breast and cervical cancer. Additionally, colorectal cancer screening has remained in a pilot phase for years, despite its potential to prevent the disease through the removal of precancerous polyps.