Key facts:
- Cancers figure among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012.
- The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades.
- Among men, the 5 most common sites of cancer diagnosed in 2012 were
- lung,
- prostate,
- colorectum,
- stomach, and
- liver cancer.
- Among women the 5 most common sites diagnosed were
- breast,
- colorectum,
- lung,
- cervix, and
- stomach cancer.
- Around one third of cancer deaths are due to the 5 leading behavioural and dietary risks:
- high body mass index,
- low fruit and vegetable intake,
- lack of physical activity,
- tobacco use,
- alcohol use.
- Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer causing around 20% of global cancer deaths and around 70% of global lung cancer deaths.
- Cancer causing viral infections such as HBV/HCV and HPV are responsible for up to 20% of cancer deaths in low- and middle-income countries.
- More than 60% of world’s total new annual cases occur in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. These regions account for 70% of the world’s cancer deaths.
More than 30% of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors, including:
- tobacco use
- being overweight or obese
- unhealthy diet with low fruit and vegetable intake
- lack of physical activity
- alcohol use
- sexually transmitted HPV-infection
- infection by HBV
- ionizing and non-ionizing radiation
- urban air pollution
- indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels.
Useful Link:
Link to factsheet on Cancer:
