The Reign of Cancer Will Rise Again In 2010!

Despite all the recent good news that we have been happily reading and spreading at the same time about cancer incidents and death rates for both males and females declining, cancer is projected to become one of the leading causes of death worldwide in the year 2010. It is also stated that low and middle income countries will feel the impact of higher cancer incidence and death rate more than the industrialized countries.

On Dec. 9th, at an event called, “Conquering Cancer: A Global Effort”, many of the nation’s leading organizations gathered to focus their attention on the growing global cancer burden. They also discussed efforts needed to address the problem. The organizations included the American Cancer Society, the Lance ArmstrongLance Armstrong Foundation, and Susan G. Komen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released the new edition of the World Cancer Report. In addition to that, a new documentary film entitled “Cancer Is…” was also premiered at this event.

The new report discussed that the burden of cancer doubled globally between 1975 and 2000. It is now estimated that it will double yet again by 2010 and even triple by 2030. This means that a huge number of people will be living with and dying of cancer by that time than the present percentage. According to the report, as many 12 million new cancer diagnosis were made worldwide this year, and more than 7 million people are estimated to die from this disease. The projected number for the year 2030 by the same report is 20-26 million new diagnosis and 13-17 million deaths.

The growing cancer burden is seen to have been largely increasing in China, Russia, and India at a rate of 1 percent incidence increase worldwide. The reasons given for projected increased rates include adoption of western habits in less developed countries, such as tobacco use and high fat diets, and demographic changes that includes a 38 percent projected increase in the population of less developed countries between 2008 and 2030.

So much for the good news that cancer rate is declining worldwide. Although one cannot be 100 percent sure how valid these projections will be in the year 2030, but we can always try to bring this incidence rate down. If “How?” is the question, then “Healthy Life Style” is the answer!