Cancer

2 February 2022

Cancer affects everyone – the young and old, the rich and poor, men, women and children – and represents a tremendous burden on patients, families and societies. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world.

Yet, many of these deaths can be avoided. Between 30-50% of cancers are preventable by healthy lifestyle choices such as avoidance of tobacco and public health measures like immunization against cancer causing infections. Others can be detected early, treated and cured. Even with late stage cancer, the suffering of patients should be relieved with good palliative care.

WHO/C de Bode

Approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries.

WHO/A Kari

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and is responsible for about 10 million deaths per year. Globally, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer (1).

WHO/S Volkov

Top 5 types of cancer killing men

Worldwide, in 2015, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill men are (in order of frequency): lung, liver, stomach, colorectal and prostate cancers.

WHO/C de Bode

Top 5 types of cancer killing women

Worldwide, in 2015, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill women are (in the order of frequency): breast, lung, colorectal, cervical and stomach cancers.

WHO/S Volkov

Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer and is responsible for approximately 25% of cancer deaths (2).

WHO

Cancer-causing infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis, are responsible for approximately 30% of cancer cases in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

WHO/G Reboux

Late-stage presentation and lack of access to diagnosis and treatment are common, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

WHO/G Reboux

The economic impact of cancer is significant and increasing. The total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010 was estimated at US$ 1.16 trillion (5).

WHO/E Eraly

Palliative care

Worldwide, only about 14% of people who need palliative care currently receive it.

WHO/J Takayama

Only 1 in 3 countries reported high quality cancer incidence data in 2019 (6).

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