Parkway Booklet

Cancer : The Lowdown

What is cancer? It’s a group of diseases characterised by abnormal cell growth. There are more than 100 types of cancer, which, if left untreated, can lead to death. Globally nearly one in six deaths is due to cancer. Worldwide, the number of new cancer cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next two decades.

WOMEN: BREAST COLORECTAL LUNG CERVIX STOMACH

MEN: LUNG PROSTATE COLORECTAL STOMACH LIVER

5 Most Common Cancers (diagnosed 2012)

1

Risk factors

Tobacco use

Being overweight or obese

Unhealthy diet with low fruit and vegetable intake

Lack of physical activity

Alcohol use

Sexually- transmitted HPV-infection

Infection by HBV

Ionising and non-ionising radiation

Urban air pollution

Indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels

Sources:World Health Organization,World Cancer Research Fund. See www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/ for full data list.