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Cancer Need Not Be a Death Sentence: WHO

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The World Health Organization reports cancer is on the
   increase globally. But it says preventive measures can save the lives
   of millions of cancer sufferers over the next decade. This report comes
   in regard to World Cancer Day on Feb. 4.

   Over the past decade, nearly every country in the world has seen an
   increase in the number of cancer patients. The World Health
   Organization reports one in six people will develop cancer in their
   lifetime, causing at least 10 million deaths from this disease every
   year.

   If current trends continue, WHO warns, new cancer cases will rise by
   60% by 2040, more than 80% in low- and middle-income countries.

   The technical officer in cancer control at WHO, Andre Ilbawi, says more
   people are dying from cancer in the poorer countries because they lack
   the services and cancer control measures that exist in the richer
   countries. He says controlling the disease does not have to be
   expensive.

   "Our report presents the first investment case from WHO for cancer
   services that governments by investing in cancer can save 7 million
   lives by 2030. And that is at the cost of $2.70 per person in
   low-income countries and $8.15 cents per person in upper middle-income
   countries. This is feasible," Ilbawi said.

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