Top 5 most common cancers worldwide are lung, breast, bowel, stomach and prostate.

Source: GLOBOCAN 2008 http://globocan.iarc.fr

In 2008 there were 12.7 million new cases of cancer diagnosed worldwide. Lung cancer was the most common cancer when men and women were analysed together and this represents 13% of all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). New cancers of breast cancer contributed 11%, bowel cancer 10%, stomach cancer 8% and prostate cancer 7%.

In men the top three cancers are lung (16%), prostate (14%) and bowel (10%). In women the top three cancers are breast (23%), bowel (10%) and cervix (10%).

There are differences also between more and less developed regions of the world. In men the top three cancers diagnosed in more developed regions are prostate (22%), lung (16%) and bowel (13%), whereas in less developed regions they are lung (17%), stomach (13%) and liver (13%). Lung cancer was an important cancer for both regions.

In women the most common cancer for both regions is breast cancer (more developed 27% and less developed 20%). In more developed regions the next most common cancers were bowel (13%) and lung (9%), while in less developed regions they are cervix (13%) and lung (8%).

Top three cancers in men worldwide

Top three cancers in women worldwide