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15. India -

India has emerged as a prominent global destination for cancer treatment. This is largely due to a combination of factors: advanced medical technology, relatively affordable healthcare costs, and a strong emphasis on patient accessibility.

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15. India -

Chennai's Apollo Hospital holds a unique position in South Asia, being the only medical center offering proton therapy, a cutting-edge cancer treatment. These ongoing advancements in cancer research and drug development, fueled by government initiatives, further enhance India’s rising prominence in the global cancer care landscape.

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14. Netherlands -

Cancer mortality in the Netherlands significantly decreased between 2011 and 2021, exceeding the decline observed in the EU and among comparable economies. While cancer remained the leading cause of death in 2021, accounting for 25.3% of all deaths, this substantial progress reflects the effectiveness of the country's cancer control efforts.

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14. Netherlands -

The Netherlands also boasts advanced cancer treatment infrastructure, including a dense network of radiotherapy centers and access to cutting-edge therapies like CAR-T cell therapy at eight specialized locations.

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13. Sweden -

Sweden is known for exceptional cancer care, featuring advanced treatments, interdisciplinary teams, and well-established regional centers, contributing to impressive survival rates and the lowest male cancer death rates in Europe (238.6 per 100,000).

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13. Sweden -

British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca also plays a key role in developing new cancer drugs, further enhancing the country's cancer care capabilities. The universal healthcare system offers minimal out-of-pocket costs, with heavily subsidized prescription medications. Patients pay the full cost of prescriptions up to €126 (US$138) before subsidies apply.

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12. China -

Home to nearly one-fifth of the world's cancer cases in 2020, China has made significant progress in cancer care over the past decade. The country has set ambitious targets: a 10% improvement in the 5-year cancer survival rate by 2025 and a 30% reduction in premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, including cancer, by 2030.

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12. China -

Leading institutions like Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute and Fuda Cancer Hospital provide world-class cancer care to patients. China's rapid advancements in cancer research and treatment innovation are transforming its healthcare landscape. The focus is on personalized medicine, with new therapies and drug approvals rapidly entering the market.

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11. Brazil -

Brazil invests significantly in cancer care, with both public and private sectors contributing. In 2022, the country spent an estimated US$3.57 billion on cancer treatment. While 78% of the population relies on public healthcare, which allocates $800 million annually to cancer care, institutions like Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein are renowned for their world-class cancer treatment.

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11. Brazil -

While equitable access remains a challenge, Brazil has made strides in cancer research and treatment infrastructure, particularly in urban areas. Continued investment in public healthcare and targeted research is crucial to meet the growing needs of the Brazilian population affected by cancer.

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10. Iceland -

Iceland boasts cancer mortality rates that are lower than the EU average, with a 5% decrease in cancer deaths compared to the EU's average in 2019. The country's strong cancer care system is supported by high-quality medical equipment, with the availability of radiation therapy equipment exceeding the EU average.

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10. Iceland -

Decentralized cancer treatment centers, including Landspitali University Hospital and regional hospitals such as Akureyri Hospital, ensure that patients across the country have access to top-tier care. The government continues to improve cancer treatment access and quality, focusing on both early detection and innovative treatment methods.

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9. Australia -

Australia boasts high cancer survival rates, with approximately 70% of patients living at least five years post-diagnosis. This success is underpinned by robust cancer research. Between 2012 and 2020, over $2.12 billion (approximately US$1.34 billion) was invested in over 4,800 research projects, primarily funded by the Australian government.

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9. Australia -

Melbourne’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a leader in cancer care, offering both innovative treatments and advanced research. The hospital also provides world-class oncology training, helping to develop the next generation of cancer specialists.

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8. France -

France is a global leader in cancer care, with Gustave Roussy recognized as one of the best cancer treatment hospitals worldwide. The country’s emphasis on innovative treatments, including early adoption of immunotherapies, has placed it at the forefront of novel cancer care. 

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8. France -

The National Cancer Strategy 2021-2030, launched with a €1.74 billion (approximately US$1.92 billion) budget, aims to reduce preventable cancer deaths by 60,000 annually by 2040. It aligns with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and includes measures to boost cancer screening, with an additional one million tests planned by 2025.

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7. Canada -

In early 2023, Canada made a significant investment in pediatric cancer research, announcing C$23 million (US$16.1 million) to establish the Canadian Pediatric Cancer Consortium. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), which allocated approximately one billion Canadian dollars (US$704 million) to cancer research from 2017 to 2021.

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7. Canada -

Canada’s cancer treatment system is renowned for swiftly integrating new therapies. In 2023, the National Research Council of Canada unveiled a groundbreaking CAR-T cell immunotherapy that reprograms a person’s immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells throughout the body.

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6. Japan -

Japan ranks as a leader in cancer treatment, especially for stomach and lung cancers, where it holds the world’s second-highest survival rates. Japan’s high-tech medical infrastructure also plays a critical role in its success in cancer treatment.

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6. Japan -

In 2021, Japan approved its first oncolytic virus therapy for patients with glioblastoma and malignant gliomas unresponsive to existing treatments. The therapy demonstrated an 84.2% one-year survival rate in phase two trials.

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5. Germany -

Germany is renowned for its top-tier cancer treatment, featuring world-class specialists, cutting-edge research, and advanced therapies. Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Europe’s largest hospital, hosts several specialized cancer centers, including those for skin, ovarian, and prostate cancers.

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5. Germany -

Germany also boasts one of the highest cancer screening rates in Europe, which plays a critical role in early detection and treatment. The country’s healthcare system ensures easy access to care, with inpatient cancer treatment rates among the highest in the EU, helping to further improve cancer outcomes for its population.

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4. Norway -

Norway offers universal health coverage to all citizens and is known for its low patient copayments, which account for less than 15% of total healthcare costs. The country’s healthcare system is so robust that most Norwegians rarely seek private hospitals for cancer treatment, further demonstrating the system's reliability and accessibility.

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4. Norway -

Norway’s cancer treatment success is driven by a focus on precision medicine, with new therapies fast-tracked through the European Medicines Agency and covered by universal healthcare. The country also has 11.3 radiotherapy centers per million citizens, well above the EU average of 8.9.

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3. Finland -

Finland has some of the best cancer survival rates in the EU. In 2019, the country's cancer mortality rate was 215 deaths per 100,000 population, well below the EU average of 247 per 100,000. Finland ranks sixth globally for breast cancer survival and seventh for prostate cancer, reflecting its strong healthcare system and early intervention strategies.

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3. Finland -

Finland’s low cancer mortality is driven by early detection policies like the 2022 Act on Screening and its national HPV vaccination program. With 10.3 radiation centers per million people, above the EU average, the country is also advancing cancer research through initiatives like the Genome Centre Act and the FINPROVE study, which accelerates access to targeted therapies.

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2. Belgium -

Belgium boasts strong cancer survival rates, with 85.4% for breast cancer and 92.6% for prostate cancer. The country has expanded its healthcare workforce, including 3,147 oncology nurses and 44 oncology specialists by 2020. Queen Mathilde serves as honorary president of the Breast International Group (BIG), a global network focused on breast cancer research and treatment.

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2. Belgium -

Belgium’s cancer care infrastructure includes a high number of radiotherapy centers—9.9 per million inhabitants, surpassing the EU average—and access to advanced treatments like proton beam therapy. The Leuven Cancer Institute, which began accepting patients in 2020, is one of the leading centers for proton therapy in the country, offering cutting-edge treatment options.

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1. United States of America -

The US has seen significant improvements in cancer care, reflected in the rising survival rates. As of recent data, the overall five-year cancer survival rate is 64%, with breast cancer survival at 83%, prostate cancer at 97%, and testicular cancer at 92%. These advancements are partly due to extensive government funding and a strong focus on reducing cancer risk factors.

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1. United States of America -

To combat rising cancer rates, the US government has implemented policies such as raising the excise tax on cigarettes, which averaged US$1.91 per pack as of 2021. In 2020, nearly $200 billion was spent on cancer care, and the mortality rate stood at 86.3 deaths per 100,000 people. To further advance treatment and research, the US government allocated $6.9 billion to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the fiscal year 2022, supporting continued innovation in cancer care.

Sources: (Insider Monkey) (European Commission) (OECD Country Cancer Profile)

See also: Why is early-onset cancer affecting more young people?

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