World Cancer Report (International Agency for Research on Cancer Scientific Publications)

With more than 10 million new cases every year, cancer has become one of the most devastating diseases worldwide. The causes and types of cancer vary in different geographical regions but in most countries, there is hardly a family without a cancer victim. The disease burden is immense, not only for affected individuals but also for their relatives and friends. At the community level, cancer poses considerable challenges for the health care systems in poor and rich countries alike. The World Cancer Report provides a unique global view of cancer. It documents the frequency of cancer in different countries, trends in cancer incidence and mortality and it describes the known causes of human cancer. The molecular and cellular basis of the multi-step process of malignant transformation is concisely summarized. The report contains an up to date overview of cancer prevention, including screening programmes for early diagnosis, as well as advances in surgical and medical oncology, including novel drugs targeting tumour-specific signalling pathways. The efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the fight against cancer are detailed, together with strategies for cancer control. The World Cancer Report presents opportunities for action at the individual, community and national level. It provides a comprehensive overview of cancer for all health care professionals and the general reader. Information is presented concisely, with more than 500 colour photographs, diagrams and tables.