More people died of cancer than heart disease in the Netherlands for the first time ever last year, reports the national statistics office CBS on Monday.

Almost 34,000 people died from cancer in the first 10 months of 2008, compared with just over 33,000 from heart and coronary diseases. Back in 1970 cancer was the cause of 23% of deaths while heart disease accounted for 45%.
In terms of cancer deaths, lung cancer is the most prevalent form among both men and women.