Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs. This process is referred to as metastasis. Metastases are the major cause of death from cancer.
The problem
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008. The main types of cancer are:
- lung (1.37 million deaths)
- stomach (736 000 deaths)
- liver (695 000 deaths)
- colorectal (608 000 deaths)
- breast (458 000 deaths)
- cervical cancer (275 000 deaths) (3).
About 70% of all cancer deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 13.1 million in 2030.
Source: WHO
Source: WHO
0 comments:
Post a Comment