Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an
estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018. Lung, prostate,
colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in
men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most
common among women.
The cancer burden continues to grow globally, exerting tremendous
physical, emotional and financial strain on individuals, families, communities and
health systems. Many health systems in low- and middle-income countries are least
prepared to manage this burden, and large numbers of cancer patients globally do
not have access to timely quality diagnosis and treatment. In countries where
health systems are strong, survival rates of many types of cancers are improving.
