17.5 million can die of cancer in 2050: Report

Washington, Dec 18 (UNI) In 2050, there will be 27 million new cancer cases and 17.5 million cancer deaths worldwide, citing the growth and aging of the population, a report said.

According to the American Cancer Society's first ''Global Cancer Facts&Figures'' report, there is a huge gap in cancer survival among developed and developing countries and this is mainly due to infection, lack of access to medical care and changing lifestyle.

''This cancer burden is also increasing as people in the developing countries adopt western lifestyles such as cigarette smoking, higher consumption of saturated fat and calorie-dense foods, and reduced physical activity,'' Ahmedin Jemal, American Cancer Society epidemiologist said in a statement.

Infection-related cancers, such as cervical and stomach cancer, are three times more common in developing nations, the report noted.

Due to such differences in cancer screening and medical care, about 81 per cent of American women survive for at least five years after breast cancer diagnosis as against 32 per cent of sub-Saharan African women, the Web MD reported.

In an other estimation, the report said in 2007, more than 12 million people will be diagnosed with cancer and 7.6 million will die of cancer worldwide, that is, about 20,000 global cancer deaths per day.

UNI