10 facts about cancer

1. There are more than 100 types of cancers; any part of the body can be affected.
2. In 2004, 7.4 million people died of cancer - 13% of all deaths worldwide.
3. More than 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low and middle income countries.
4. Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill men are (in order of frequency): lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and oesophagus.
5. Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill women are (in the order of frequency): breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and cervical.
6. Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world.
7. One fifth of all cancers worldwide are caused by a chronic infection, for example human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer and hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver cancer.
8. A third of cancers could be cured if detected early and treated adequately.
9. All patients in need of pain relief could be helped if current knowledge about pain control and palliative care were applied.
10. More than 30% of cancer could be prevented, mainly by not using tobacco, having a healthy diet, being physically active and preventing infections that may cause cancer.