Worldwide cancer patterns

11.4 million new cases of cancer worldwide in 2004

Source: Global burden of Disease: 2004 update

The latest global figures show that in 2004, there were 11.4 million cases of cancer diagnosed worldwide, and 75% of these were in Europe, the Americas and the Western Pacific Region. The Western Pacific Region includes China, Malaysia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The lowest numbers of cases were diagnosed in the Eastern Mediterranean region (includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia) and Africa.

There were differences in the top three most common cancers in each region.  The top three included lung cancer in all regions except Africa and included breast cancer in all except for the Western Pacific region. Cervical cancer was in the top three in Africa and South-East Asia only and bowel cancer in the top three for Europe only. Prostate cancer was in the top three in Africa and the Americas.

Some of the variation was due to the age of the populations in the different regions, as most cancers affect older adults. Variations in cancer rates also depends on the number of people exposed to the causes of cancer, such as cigarette smoking in the case of lung cancer.

Distribution of new cases of cancer worldwide in 2004