Deaths from Cancer
The World Cancer Report has confirmed that cancer is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, responsible for 8.2 million deaths per year.
The report also predicts that cancer incidence will increase by 75 per cent over the next two decades, exceeding 20 million new cases a year in 2025.
Australia has the world’s third highest rate of cancer incidence, behind Denmark and France, but this is mostly due to the nation’s longevity.
“Australians are living longer than previous generations, thanks to improved infection and cardiovascular disease control,” said Cancer Council Australia spokesman Terry Slevin. “Unfortunately, cancer is a disease that is more likely to affect us later in life, so the longer Australians live, the more cancer cases we see.”
This trend was also seen around the world, although populations in developing countries were also seeing a rise in cancers caused by lifestyle issues such as smoking, poor diet and inactivity.
To help Australians sort cancer fact from fiction, the Cancer Council has created a mobile app for its iheard website.
The app is designed to give people evidenced-based answers to the many myths and misinformation that are commonly told and reported about the causes of cancer.
“We get asked all sorts of questions about cancer – everything from whether lipstick will give you cancer to whether you can cure yourself with baking soda,” Mr Slevin said.
“We want to help Australians separate scientific fact from fiction. The message is simple: to lower your cancer risk, don’t smoke, do eat a balanced diet and be active, avoid harmful UV radiation, limit your alcohol consumption.
“Screen for bowel, cervical and breast cancers if you’re in the appropriate age groups, and consult your GP if you notice any unusual changes in the way your body feels or is functioning.”
The World Cancer Report can be downloaded here.
The iheard mobile app can downloaded here.
