These are the 6 most common types of cancer in the world

What is the most common type of cancer that causes death?

What are the most common types of cancer?

How to prevent cancer?

The answers are in this comprehensive report on the occasion of World Cancer Day, which falls on Friday.

The fourth of February every year marks World Cancer Day.

The theme for this year's World Cancer Day is 'Bridging the Care Gap'.

The World Health Organization said - in a statement - that cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and its burden is increasing.

In 2021, the world crossed a new realistic threshold;

An estimated 20 million people were diagnosed with cancer, and 10 million people died from it.

These numbers will continue to rise in the coming decades.

However, all types of cancer can be treated, and many can be prevented or cured.

The organization adds, "However, cancer care - like many other diseases - reflects the inequality of our world. The distinction - in this regard - between high-income and low-income countries; according to reports, universal treatment is available in more than 90% of in high-income countries, while it is available in less than 15% in low-income countries.

Similarly, the survival rate of children with cancer is more than 80% in high-income countries, while it is less than 30% in low- and middle-income countries.

The 5-year survival rate after a breast cancer diagnosis has exceeded 80% in most high-income countries, compared to 66% in India and only 40% in South Africa.

Moreover, a recent WHO survey found that cancer services are covered by a government health financing scheme in 37% of low- and middle-income countries, compared to at least 78% in high-income countries.

This means that a cancer diagnosis can push families into poverty, particularly in low-income countries, and this effect has been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

closing the care gap

For all these reasons, the theme for this year's World Cancer Day is 'Bridging the Care Gap'.

Fortunately, much is being done to provide quality cancer care in countries that have so far been out of reach, according to the WHO.

The efforts of the World Health Organization are focused on breast cancer, which is now the most common type of cancer, and cervical cancer, which can be eradicated;

and pediatric cancer.

The focus of each of these initiatives is on low- and middle-income countries, where the greatest public health gains must be made.

These integrated global cancer initiatives are implemented by more than 200 partners around the world, including several development banks that have significantly increased their investments in cancer research, prevention and care.

National Cancer Centers

“Experience has shown the importance of national cancer centers in ensuring a comprehensive approach to cancer treatment, as providing prevention, diagnosis, multidisciplinary treatment and supportive care together in one place makes it easier for patients to navigate services and leads to a greater concentration of experiences, and thus better health outcomes,” the organization said. Moreover, cancer centers act as training and research centers, and in this way, they help build the country’s capacity and expertise.”

Facilitating examination decisions

"Screening is another important component of comprehensive cancer prevention and control, but decisions about what to include in a cancer program require consideration of a number of complex factors. To support decision-making on such issues in countries, the World Health Organization recently released a summary guide," WHO added. Cancer Screening, titled 'Maximizing Efficacy, Maximizing Benefits and Minimizing Harm'.

Revitalizing efforts to increase access to radiotherapy

"Radiation therapy is one of the most cost-effective and most widely used cancer treatments, and can be considered a treatment option for an estimated half of cancer patients. Although it is a critical component of cancer care, global access to radiotherapy remains insufficient, especially in low-income countries.

To revitalize efforts to address this problem, the World Health Organization is teaming up with the International Atomic Energy Agency, launching the "rays of hope" initiative.

This new project will prioritize a limited number of high-impact, cost-effective and sustainable interventions in line with national needs and commitments, starting with Africa.

Scaling up is critical given the impact of the pandemic

"High-quality cancer programs at the international, national and community levels are even more important given the disruption of cancer programs during the COVID-19 pandemic," the organization said. In a survey published in October 2021, more than half of the countries that reported indicated that cancer screening And his treatment has been partially or completely disrupted during the epidemic."

"However, through cooperation, commitment and solidarity, hope can be provided to the many millions of people for whom, in the past, cancer treatment was nothing more than a dream," the organization concluded.

About a third of cancer deaths are attributed to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol use, low intake of fruits and vegetables, and lack of physical activity, according to the World Health Organization.

Cancer-causing infections, such as hepatitis and human papillomavirus, account for 30% of cancer cases in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

What is cancer?

Cancer is a general term that includes a wide range of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumors and neoplasms.

A hallmark of cancer is the rapid generation of abnormal cells that grow outside their usual boundaries and can then invade nearby parts of the body and spread to other parts of the body.

The last process is called "metastasis", and metastases are the most important cause of death from cancer.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, claiming 10 million lives in 2020.

The most common types of cancer in 2020 in terms of new cancer cases

The types of cancer that caused the most deaths in 2020

•  Lung cancer: 1.80 million deaths

• Colorectal cancer: 935,000 deaths

• Liver cancer: 830,000 deaths

• Stomach cancer: 769,000 deaths

• Breast cancer: 685,000 deaths

What are the causes of cancer?

The World Health Organization says cancer arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumor cells in a multi-stage process that generally progresses from a precancerous lesion to a malignant tumor.

These changes are caused by the interaction between a person's genetic factors and 3 categories of external factors, including the following:

• Carcinogenic physical agents, such as ultraviolet radiation and ionizing radiation

• Chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food pollutant), and arsenic (a pollutant in drinking water)

• Biological carcinogens, such as infections caused by certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites

The incidence of cancer rises sharply with age, likely due to the accumulation of risks of developing certain types of cancer, which increase with age.

The accumulation of cancer risk is associated with the tendency for the effectiveness of cell repair mechanisms to decline as a person gets older.

All types of cancer risk factors

Tobacco and alcohol use, an unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and air pollution are major risk factors for cancer (and other noncommunicable diseases), according to the WHO.

There are some chronic infections that are risk factors for developing cancer;

It is a particularly prominent problem in low- and middle-income countries.

Approximately 13% of cancer types - diagnosed in 2018 worldwide - were caused by carcinogenic infections, including Helicobacter pylori, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis B and C viruses. The Epstein-Barr virus.

Hepatitis B and C viruses and some types of HPV increase the risk of liver and cervical cancer, respectively, while HIV infection significantly increases the risk of other types of cancer, such as cervical cancer. the womb.

Cancer prevention

Cancer risk can be reduced by:

• quit tobacco use

• Maintain a healthy body weight

• Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables

• Do regular physical activity

• Avoid alcohol abuse

• Get vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B if you belong to a recommended group

• Avoid exposure to UV rays (caused primarily by exposure to sunlight and artificial tanning beds)

• Ensuring the safe and appropriate use of radiation in health care (for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes)

• Minimize occupational exposure to ionizing radiation

• Limit exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution, including radon (a radioactive gas produced by the natural decay of uranium, which can build up in buildings, homes, schools and workplaces)

Early detection of cancer

Cancer deaths can be reduced if cases are detected and treated early.

When cancer is diagnosed early, it is more likely to respond to treatment, which can increase the likelihood of survival and reduce morbidity, as well as the costs of expensive treatment.

Significant improvements in the lives of cancer patients can be made by detecting the disease early and by avoiding delaying care.