Cancer killed 7.6 million people in 2007

In addition to nearly 8 million deaths, an additional 12 million people carry cancer. That is the data published by the American Cancer Organization yesterday.

Based on data compiled by the International Health Research Agency (IARC), the World Health Organization, the report, Global Cancer Facts and Figures 2007 (ACS) clarified the differences in status of cancer in developed and developing countries.

Infection plays a more dominant role in causing cancer in developing countries. Here, the number of people suffering from cancer is twice as high as that of developed countries. In third world countries, stomach cancer, lungs and liver are considered the three most common diseases in men. Meanwhile, breast cancer, uterus and stomach are prevalent in women.

Cancer cell.(Photo: Xinhua)

Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of stomach cancer, while papilloma virus is the main culprit in uterine cancer. Liver cancer is associated with infection with hepatitis B and C.

In contrast, in developed countries, the main cancer in men is prostate, lung and intestinal, while breast, intestinal and lung cancer are common in the weaker sex. The survival rate is lower in less developed countries, showing weakness in prevention, early detection and treatment.

The report also shows that smoking trends are increasing in developing countries. It warns if the model continues, the number of smokers worldwide will reach 2 billion by 2030.

In 2000, about 5 million people died from smoking-related diseases, and of those, 1.42 million people died of cancer. About 84% of the nearly 1.3 billion smokers in the world live in developing countries.

MT