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Geneva (pte049/03.04.2003/17:22) - Cases of cancer could increase by 50 per cent to 15 million world wide by 2020, says a new 352-page report by the World Health Organization http://www.iarc.fr/WCR . The report however points out that a healthy lifestyle and solid health policy measures could stall the trend and prevent up to a third of all cancer cases worldwide.
The USA has the highest cancer rate, followed by Italy, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and France. Lung cancer is the most common form with 1.2 million new cases each year, followed by breast cancer (over a million new cases), and colorectal cancer (940,000 new cases).
The WHO attributes the rise in cancer cases from ten million in 2002 to 15 million in 2020 to the continued ageing of the population, but smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle are also listed as important factors. "Seen globally, the focus on cancer prevention activities with respect to nutrition and tobacco are completely justified. These factors are responsible for 43 per cent of all deaths from cancer in the year 2000 and 40 per cent of all new cases," said WHO expert Rafael Bengoa.
The good news in the report is that the breast cancer death rate is falling in North America, western Europe and Australia. This is the result of better methods of detection and treatment.
WHO officials say that good nutrition, exercise and a generally healthy lifestyle can also make a big difference in stemming the increase of cancer rates and preventing a third of cases. They call on governments and health practitioners to raise awareness and increase efforts to develop treatment. "Action now can prevent on third of cancers, cure another third, and provide good, palliative care to the remaining third who need it," said Paul Kleihues. director of the International Cancer Research Authority (IARC).
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