WHO forecasts 50% increase in cancer rates by 2020

By 2020 there could be 15m new cancer cases across the world each year - an increase of 50% on 2000, warns the WHO's World Cancer Report.

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 a third of cancers worldwide.

In 2000, malignant tumours were responsible for 12% of the nearly 56m deaths worldwide from all causes, but in many countries cancer accounts for more than a quarter of all deaths. Cancer has also become a major public heath problem in developing countries, just as it is in industrialised nations.

'We can make a difference by taking action today,' said Dr Paul Kleihues, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and co-editor of the World Cancer Report. '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 contribute to stemming the increase of cancer rates and preventing a third of cases include reducing tobacco consumption; adopting a healthier lifestyle; early detection through screening, particularly for cervical and breast cancers.

'From a global perspective, there is strong justification for focusing cancer prevention activities particularly on tobacco and diet. We also need to continue efforts to curb infections which cause cancers,' said Dr Rafael Bengoa, director, management of non-communicable disease at WHO. 'These factors were responsible for 43% of all cancer deaths in 2000, that is 2.7m fatalities, and 40% of all new cases, that is 4m new cancer cases.'

World Cancer Report

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 World Health Organization (WHO).