WHO warn world cancer rates set to soar

Cancer rates could increase by 50% to 15 million new cases in the year 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

In their World Cancer Report, the most comprehensive global examination of the disease to date, their figures for 2000 revealed that malignant tumours were responsible for 12% of the nearly 56 million deaths worldwide from all causes. In many countries, more than a quarter of deaths are attributable to cancer. In the same year, 5.3 million men and 4.7 million women developed a malignant tumour and altogether 6.2 million died from the disease.

The report also revealed that cancer has emerged as a major public health problem in developing countries, matching its effect in industrialized nations.

However, the report also provides clear evidence that healthy lifestyles and public health action by governments and health practitioners could stem this trend, and prevent as many as one third of cancers worldwide.

Commenting on the report, Dr. Paul Kleihues, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and co-editor of the World Cancer Report, said: “The World Cancer Report tells us that cancer rates are set to increase at an alarming rate globally. We can make a difference by taking action today. We have the opportunity to stem this increase.

"This report calls on Governments, health practitioners and the general public to take urgent action. Action now can prevent one third of cancers, cure another third, and provide good, palliative care to the remaining third who need it."

Examples of areas where action can make a difference to stemming the increase of cancer rates and preventing a third of cases are:

• Reduction of tobacco consumption remains the most important avoidable cancer risk.
• A healthy lifestyle and diet can help with frequent consumption of fruit and vegetables and physical activity making a difference.
• Early detection through screening, particularly for cervical and breast cancers, allow for prevention and successful cure.

The predicted sharp increase in new cases – from 10 million new cases globally in 2000, to 15 million in 2020 - will mainly be due to steadily ageing populations in both developed and developing countries and also to current trends in smoking prevalence and the growing adoption of unhealthy lifestyles, the report added.

The World Cancer Report is a concise manual describing the global burden, the causes of cancer, major types of malignancies, early detection and treatment. The 351-page global report is issued by IARC, which is part of the WHO.

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