The American Cancer Society released a rather macabre study
on Monday saying that about 7.6 million people will die this year worldwide
from various types of cancer, with lung cancer, heavily driven by smoking, killing
975,000 men and 376,000 women.
In all, about 12.3 million people will develop cancer this
year, the organization projected, using data from the International Agency for
Research on Cancer, a branch of the World Health Organization.
About 20,000 people die of cancer every day worldwide, the
report showed. Smoking was heavily responsible for the lung cancer scourge.
Cancer's burden is on the rise in developing countries as
deaths from infectious diseases and child mortality fall and more people live
longer, American Cancer Society epidemiologist Ahmedin Jemal said in a
telephone interview. Cancer is more common as people get older, Jemal noted.
Cancer also is increasing in developing countries as people
embrace habits linked to cancer such as smoking and fattier diets, Jemal said.
The report estimated 5.4 million people will get cancer and
2.9 million will die of cancer in developed nations, with 6.7 million cases and
4.7 million deaths in developing nations.
Overall, 75 percent of children with cancer live for five
years in Europe and North America, compared to three-year survival rates of
only 48 to 62 percent in Central American countries.
Globally, 15 percent of all cancers are caused by
infections. The Helicobacter pylori bacteria causes stomach cancer, human
papillomavirus causes cervical cancer and hepatitis can cause liver cancer.
Among men, the three most commonly diagnosed cancers are
prostate, lung and colorectal cancer in developed countries and lung, stomach
and liver cancer in developing countries.
Among women, the three most common cancers are lung, breast
and colorectal in developed countries and breast, cervical and stomach cancer
in developing countries.
About 465,000 women will die of breast cancer this year,
making it the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide, the group
said.
