07:44 2nd February 2018 | Cancer Control

World Cancer Day International Cancer Control Cancer Control Vaccinations Cancer in Men Cancer in Women Cancer in Children

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Before we look at the leading cancers in women, men and children, let’s look at efforts to spread awareness.

February the 4th was declared World Cancer Day. Its origin can be traced back to the first World Summit Against Cancer that was held in Paris (France) in 2000. World Cancer Day is observed worldwide and there is a reason for it. This year alone, nearly 8 million people will die of cancer, and left unchecked, the number of deaths will increase to 13.2 million per year by 2030. This important day therefore exists to raise awareness of cancer, target misinformation, reduce stigma and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment.

To support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has established an overarching goal which is as follows: “Major reductions in premature deaths from cancer, and improvements in quality of life and cancer survival rates, by 2025.”

To reach this goal, 9 targets have been set out:

1. Strengthen health systems of effective cancer control
2. Measure cancer burden and impact of cancer plans in all countries
3. Reduce exposure to cancer risk factors
4. Universal coverage of HPV and HBV vaccination
5. Reduce stigma and dispel myths about cancer
6. Universal access to screening and early detection of cancer
7. Improve access to services across the cancer care continuum
8. Universal availability of pain control and distress management
9. Improve education and training of healthcare professionals

MOST COMMON CANCERS IN MEN:

• PROSTATE | The leading cancer. | Prevalent in 124 countries worldwide.
• LUNG | Leading cause of death from cancer in USA. | Prevalent in China, Vietnam & Africa.
• COLORECTAL | Very common in Africa
• STOMACH | Most common in Asian men. | Prevalent in 9 countries in Asia.
• LIVER | Prevalent in Gambia and Laos.
• Oesophagus
• Bladder | Most common in non-Africans. Prevalent in 7 countries in Northern Africa and Asia.
• Bowel | Prevalent in 23 countries in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
• Mouth and Throat: Common in Africa.

MOST COMMON CANCERS IN WOMEN:

• BREAST | Prevalent in 155 countries worldwide.
• CERVIX | 2nd Most common in women living in less developed regions. | Prevalent in 30 Countries in Africa, the Americas and Asia.
• LUNG | The leading cause of death from cancer in the USA.
• COLORECTAL
• UTERINE ENDOMETRIAL | Most common cancer of the female reproductive organs in USA.
• Oesophagus
• Bladder

NB: Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 35 years and under.

Noteworthy: The incidence of thyroid cancer in South Korea is extraordinarily high and the challenges are substantial.

CANCERS IN CHILDREN

An IARC report* released in 2016 supports the belief that childhood cancer is becoming a public health crisis in the developing world. The most common cancers in children are:

• Leukaemias (blood cancer)
• Nervous system tumours
• Lymphomas (blood cancer)
• Soft tissue sarcomas (a malignant tumor that begins in the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels or other "soft" supporting tissues of the body)
• Carcinomas (a cancer arising in the epithelial tissue of the skin or of the lining of the internal organs.)
• Retinoblastoma (eye cancer)

*International Agency for Research on Cancer

Nearly half of childhood cancers worldwide are cancers of the blood (leukemia and lymphoma). Alarmingly, leukemia is rarely diagnosed in sub-Saharan Africa. It is also becoming more apparent that there is a pressing need for extensive research into the correlation between childhood cancer and other diseases in some areas of the world.

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