Patterns of Cancer Incidence, Mortality, and Survival

The global burden of cancer is expected to increase from 14.1 million newly diagnosed cases and 8.2 million cancer deaths in 2012 to 22 million cases and 13 million deaths in 2030. This increase, based on projected population aging and growth, will disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where large numbers of young adults are now surviving to older ages where cancer becomes common. The incidence of cancers traditionally associated with Western behavioral, environmental, and cultural factors (breast, colorectum, lung, and prostate) are increasing in LMICs, whereas cancers caused at least partly by infectious agents (stomach, liver, uterine cervix) are decreasing. Population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) are central to cancer surveillance and control. These registries now cover over 95% of the population in North America, but less than 10% of the populations of South America and Africa.