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Why is cancer such a threat?

Globally, one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer before the age of 75.

And one in eight men, and one in twelve women, will die from the disease.

Cancer is the leading cause of economic loss through premature death and disability worldwide – because of the vast sums spent on treatment, but also in lost economic and social activity.

In 2010, WHO says the total annual economic cost of cancer was $1.16 trillion (£700bn).

Cancer costing Europe ‘billions’

The Global Economic Cost of Cancer (external)

Why is it still spreading?

Despite treatment advances and screening programmes to detect the disease earlier, the cancer burden will increase.

The world’s population is growing and lifespan is increasing. This means there will be more and more people who can develop cancer.

Currently, 14 million people a year are diagnosed with cancer. WHO says that will increase to 19 million by 2025, 22 million by 2030 and 24 million by 2035.