Why is cancer such a threat?
Globally, one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer before the age of 75.
And one in eight men, and one in twelve women, will die from the disease.
Cancer is the leading cause of economic loss through premature death and disability worldwide - because of the vast sums spent on treatment, but also in lost economic and social activity.
In 2010, WHO says the total annual economic cost of cancer was $1.16 trillion (£700bn).
source: BBC NEWS
A global drive to tackle the causes of cancer linked to lifestyle, such as alcohol abuse, sugar consumption and obesity, has been urged on Monday by the World Health Organisation as it predicted the number of new cases could soar 70% to nearly 25 million a year over the next 20 years.
Half of these cases are preventable, says the UN's public health arm in its World Cancer Report, because they are linked to lifestyle. It is implausible to think we can treat our way out of the disease, say the authors, arguing that the focus must now be on preventing new cases.
Even the richest countries will struggle to cope with the spiralling costs of treatment and care for patients, and the lower income countries, where numbers are expected to be highest, are ill-equipped for the burden to come.
The incidence of cancer globally has increased from 12.7m new cases in 2008 to 14.1m in 2012, when there were 8.2m deaths. By 2032, it is expected to hit almost 25m a year – a 70% increase.
Source: The Guardian
Today was Cancer day! Cancer is such a threat to human life, we should all work together to help each other fight this terrible disease. Huu ugonjwa hauna jema kabisaaa! Mungu atuepushie!
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