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Cancer epidemiology

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are currently 24.6 million people worldwide who have been diagnosed with cancer.

In 2005, 7.6 million people died from cancer, accounting for 12.5% of total worldwide mortality.

The WHO has predicted that the worldwide incidence of cancer will rise by 50% between 2000 and 2020, with 16 million new cancer cases diagnosed in 2020 compared to 10.9 million new cases in 2002.

Cancer incidence and mortality varies around the world and between men and women. The four most common cancers worldwide are: 

• lung
• stomach
• liver
• colorectal

The most common cancer in men is lung cancer, accounting for 17% of male cancer incidence and 22% of male cancer mortality.

In women, breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, accounting for 23% of all female cancers and 14% of female cancer mortality (Ferlay J, et al., GLOBOCAN 2002. Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide. IARC CancerBase No.5, Version 2.0. IARCPress, Lyon, 2004).