“The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialized cancer agency of the World  Health Organization, is today launching World Cancer Report 2014, a collaboration of over 250 leading
scientists from more than 40 countries, describing multiple aspects of cancer research and control. Based on the latest statistics on trends in cancer incidence and mortality worldwide, this new book reveals how the cancer burden is growing at an alarming pace and emphasizes the need for urgent  implementation of efficient prevention strategies to curb the disease.“Despite exciting advances, this Report shows that we cannot treat our way out of the cancer problem,”  states Dr Christopher Wild, Director of IARC and co-editor of the book. “More commitment to prevention  and early detection is desperately needed in order to complement improved treatments and address the  alarming rise in cancer burden globally.”  Increasing global burden of cancer – In 2012, the worldwide burden of cancer rose to an estimated 14 million new cases per year, a figure expected to rise to 22 million annually within the next two decades. Over the same period, cancer deaths are predicted to rise from an estimated 8.2 million annually to 13 million per year. Globally, in 2012 the most common cancers diagnosed were those of the lung (1.8 million cases, 13.0% of the total), breast (1.7 million, 11.9%), and large bowel (1.4 million, 9.7%). The most common causes of cancer death were cancers of the lung (1.6 million, 19.4% of the total), liver (0.8 million, 9.1%), and stomach (0.7 million, 8.8%).”