Nursing on Thursdays
Summary: Cancer Profile in Portugal (2025) – Key Data
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Portugal, accounting for 23% of deaths in 2021, behind only cardiovascular diseases. Cancer mortality is decreasing, but at a slower rate than the EU average. Cancer incidence is estimated to increase by 20% by 2040, with men having a mortality risk twice as high as women. Portugal stands out negatively in Europe for its high rates of stomach and pediatric cancer.
Prevention: Progress and Challenges – Portugal spends half the European average on prevention, but has one of the highest vaccination coverage rates against the human papillomavirus (91% of 15-year-old girls in 2023). However, obesity affects 53% of adults, with marked socioeconomic disparities: 60% of women with low levels of education are overweight, compared to 33% of those with the highest levels of education.
Among adolescents, overweight or obesity remained relatively stable, with 20% of young people aged 11 to 15 facing this problem in 2022. This figure is slightly lower than the European average of 21%, but reveals a worrying socioeconomic gradient: 21% of children from higher-income households are overweight or obese, compared to 33% of children from lower-income households. The lack of physical activity contributes to this scenario. In 2022, only 26% of Portuguese people over the age of 15 practiced physical activity at least three times a week, a value below the European average of 31%. Among 15-year-olds, only 14% practiced 60 minutes of physical activity daily, below the European average of 15%.
Alcohol consumption (10 liters/year per person) contributes to 16 new cases of cancer/100,000 inhabitants, and smoking (14% in 2019) remains a risk factor, especially among men.
Screenings: Uneven Coverage – National screening programs have uneven adherence: 50% for breast cancer (98% invited to participate in the study, but only 32% adherence in Lisbon), 60% for cervical cancer (94% adherence, but only 64% invited) and only 14% for colorectal cancer (with glaring regional disparities). The lack of family doctors (1.5 million Portuguese people will be without a doctor in 2023) makes early detection difficult.
Treatment: Limited resources – The NHS offers free care, but faces a shortage of professionals and ageing equipment (50% of radiotherapy equipment is over 15 years old). Waiting times are worrying: 62% of hospitals exceeded the deadline for the first oncology appointment (an average of 25 days).
Economic and Social Impact – Cancer accounts for 4.2% of healthcare expenditure and causes productivity losses equivalent to 200 workers/100,000 inhabitants (above the European average). Life expectancy could be reduced by 1.9 years by 2050 due to the disease, and Portugal has the highest rate of post-cancer depression in the EU (31 cases/100,000).
Palliative and Paediatric Care – The palliative care network has 245 hospital beds, but there is a shortage of specialist professionals (only 40% of doctors are trained). In paediatric cancer (19 cases/100,000 children, the highest in the EU), research is insufficient (only 22 clinical trials between 2010-2022).
Conclusion – Portugal can reduce the impact of cancer with effective strategies: combating obesity and alcohol, expanding screening, modernizing equipment and strengthening medical training. The OECD report points to ways to a healthier future, but requires urgent action.
*Source: OECD/European Commission (2025), “EU Cancer Country Profile: Portugal 2025”.*
Bruno Filipe Rodrigues Pina Monteiro
Coordinator of the Dynamic Group of the Child and Pediatric Health Nursing Center. Specialist Nurse in Child and Pediatric Health Nursing working in the Pediatric Emergency Unit of the Guarda Local Health Unit, EPE.
Jornal A Guarda
