The number of cases of lung and head and neck cancer is considerably higher in parts of Lelystad than in the rest of the country. This is evident from the cankeratlas published by cancer center IKNL.
Lung cancer was diagnosed 52 percent more often in the Lelystad zip code areas 8231 to 8239. It mainly concerns women, with 78 percent more cases of the condition. In the same area, which includes the Kempenaar, Schouw, Hanzepark, Tjalk and Grietenij districts, head and neck cancer is 49 percent more common than the national average. Head and neck cancer includes throat, lip, nose, ear and tongue cancer.
In the adjacent postcode area, the Zuiderzeewijk up to and including the Waterwijk, significantly more cases (48 percent) of lung cancer have been discovered in women.
According to IKNL, these cancers are mainly caused by smoking. According to IKNL, the atlas confirms national data from the GGD, which shows that smoking is much more common in deprived areas in particular.
prostate cancer
Lelystad also stands out with 39 percent more cases of prostate cancer. This is in the postcode area 8241-8245, from Flevo Golf Resort to Lelystad-Haven. An IKNL spokesperson sees no specific cause for this and thinks that GPs are more active with testing, so that more cases are discovered.
Dronten also turns red on the cancer atlas. Testicular cancer is detected here 37 percent more often than in the rest of the country. According to cancer center IKNL, this is not alarming because it concerns very small numbers. This means that one or two additional cases quickly lead to a significantly higher percentage.
