title: Age-specific cancer mortality trends in 16 countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored previously little-known cancer mortality trends with a focus on changes with age and sex differences in 16 countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time series age-sex-specific cancer mortality, deaths from all causes, and population data were used for statistical description.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cancer mortality rate (CMR) peaked and declined with age in 11 countries. CMRs appeared to peak earlier and decline more dramatically in earlier time periods rather than later periods and for males rather than females. CMR peaking could have possibly been historically delayed. Moreover, "percentage of deaths from cancer" (PDC) in all 16 countries plunged after about age 60. Middle-aged women may have higher CMRs than men. Premenopausal women may have higher PDCs than postmenopausal women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings make significant contributions to the literature, though their interpretation and application have limitations due to data quality and availability. Future research should explore if and how the findings apply to other countries and time periods. Public health practitioners and policy makers should consider age-sex-specific strategies for more effective cancer control.
authors.affiliation: Geography Program, School of Environmental, Physical and Applied Sciences, University of Central Missouri, Humphreys 225, Warrensburg, MO, 64093, USA. laliu@ucmo.edu.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Independent Scholar, 1210 E. 54th St., Chicago, IL, 60615, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aging; Cancer epidemiology; Community health; Gender; International health; Public health methodology