Cancer deaths may reach 17M by 2030—WHO

MANILA, Philippines—Cancer deaths worldwide would more than double in the next 20 years if people do not change their lifestyles, according to the World Health Organization.

The WHO, in a statement released Tuesday, said that more than 30 percent of all kinds of cancer could be prevented through simple measures like no tobacco use, healthy diet, exercise, limited alcohol intake and protection against cancer-causing infections.

“Without urgent action, global cancer deaths will dramatically increase from 7.6 million this year to 17 million by 2030,” the WHO said in a statement.

Cancer is a major killer in both developed and developing countries and accounts for one in eight deaths worldwide, more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, according to WHO.

“And yet many of these deaths can be avoided,” the WHO stressed.

Some cancers could be detected early, treated and cured, it added.

World Cancer Day is observed every February 4 to drum up awareness of cancer and the ways to prevent, detect and treat the disease.

The WHO said this year’s theme is, “Cancer can be prevented too.” –Dona Pazzibugan, Philippine Daily Inquirer