| Every year, the American cancer society releases | | | | the use of tobacco, unhealthy diets and physical |
| facts and figures on cancer cases around the world. | | | | inactivity leads to other type's cancers such as lung |
| The figures explore subjects such as rates by region, | | | | & bronchus, breast, and colorectal cancers. |
| leading causes of cancer, survival rate for each type | | | | Preventing Cancer |
| and comparison between death rates for developing | | | | The findings point to the fact that anyone, anywhere |
| nations versus developed nations. The information | | | | and at any time can develop cancer. But it is also |
| gives us a fascinating look at the details of this | | | | estimates that 50% of cancers are avoidable. Some |
| deadly disease. In this article, I will explore some of | | | | types of cancers can be prevented by eliminating |
| the most interesting facts from the 2007 findings. | | | | tobacco or alcohol use. Healthy diets and staying in |
| We will focus mostly on statistics in developed | | | | shape is also a great way of reducing the chance of |
| nations, since rates of cancer are unfortunately | | | | getting cancer. Cancers like colorectal and cervix can |
| statistically much higher in developing countries. | | | | be avoided by early detection and removal of |
| Cancer cases and mortality rate for 2007 and | | | | pre-cancerous lesions. |
| beyond | | | | Leading cancers for 2007 |
| The findings estimate that for 2007 there was a | | | | Worldwide the 3 most common cancers for women |
| total of 12 million new cancer cases worldwide. Out | | | | were Breast cancer with 1,301,867 new cases, Cervix |
| of these 12 million cases, 7.6 million resulted with the | | | | & Colon cancer with 555,094 cases and Lung |
| patients losing their lives. This figure amounts to an | | | | & Bronchus with 536,662 cases. For men, the |
| astonishing 20 000 deaths per day. This figure is | | | | most common cancers were Lung & Bronchus |
| expected to more than double by 2050. In 2050, | | | | with 1,108,731 new cases, prostate with 782,647 |
| there will be 27 million new cases per year and a total | | | | cases and stomach cancer with 691,432 new cases. |
| of 17.5 million deaths for the year. The article | | | | The article mentions that the risk of being diagnosed |
| attributes this increase mostly to the world's aging | | | | increases with age. In developed countries, 78% of |
| population. | | | | new cancer diagnoses occur with individuals who are |
| Cancer Trends | | | | 55 years old or older. |
| In underdeveloped countries, stomach and cervix | | | | The most important finding that we can obtain from |
| cancers are some of the most frequent type of | | | | these statistics, is the fact that worldwide 50% of all |
| cancers. This is mostly due to chronic infections in | | | | cancers are avoidable. With a combination of |
| these regions. These types of cancers are less | | | | education and social policies that encourage healthy |
| common in developed countries where chronic | | | | lifestyles, we could substantially reduce the amount |
| infectious are not an issue. In developed countries, | | | | of cases of this horrible disease. |