Cancer diagnoses in Murcia rising fast with one new case every hour
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.
These findings sit alongside growing concern about environmental and long-term health risks in Spain, including ongoing attention on radon exposure and hidden cancer risks in homes and recent research exploring links between drinking water chemicals and bowel cancer. They also come amid wider warnings about rising cancer rates nationally and pressure on public health systems.
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.
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Calle Madre Maria Seiquer, 48, 30151, Santo Angel (Murcia)Tel: +34 968 84 22 62
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.The six-storey Caser Residencial Santo Ángel retirement home is located in the desirable residential area of Santo Ángel just outside the city of Murcia city, 5.3 kilometres south of the centre. The location couldn’t be better, offering quick access to the city centre while being quiet and secluded enough to afford residents and visitors magnificent views of the natural surroundings of the mountains which dominate the skyline south of the regional capital.
The centre has room for 267 residents to live in a generously spacious area, and there is also a Day Centre with 25 places available, a special care unit for people with Alzheimer’s and a Psychogeriatric Unit to offer the best specialised care to residents with mental health problems. In additon. there are special units catering for those with behavioural disorders and people who have suffered stroke or brain damage.
Best of all, there’s a dedicated International Unit on site that caters for the needs of ex-pats and foreign residents, helping to meet their needs and provide them with the highest quality care in a safe and familiar environment.
For residents, there are both twin and single rooms available, and the option to stay indefinitely or temporarily for the purposes of recuperation, post-operative treatment or family rest.
Services for elderly care at Caser Residencial Santo Ángel
- Medical service
- International Unit
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Nursing
- Speech therapy
- Neuropsychology
- Rehabilitative physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Sensory stimulation
- Therapeutic leisure
- Social work
- Sociocultural Animation
- Pharmacy
- Day centre
Opening/Contact Hours:
- 9am – 10pm
Contact Caser Residencial Santo Ángel today for more information on live-in care at a residential retirement home or to benefit from the Day Centre and rehabilitative services.
