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Cancer facts

Interesting facts from the American Cancer Society

Cancer poses a serious global health and economic challenge:

• In 2010, cancer is expected to become the leading cause of death worldwide.
• By 2030, the global cancer burden is expected to grow to 27 million new cancer cases and 17 million cancer deaths per year.
• 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low and middle income countries
• The Economist Intelligence Unit estimated that in 2009, cancer worldwide cost at least US$286 billion, with 12.9 million new cancer cases and 7.6 million cancer deaths.
• Breast and cervical cancer killed 685,000 women worldwide in 2002. Over 80% of cervical cancer deaths occurred in developing countries.
• It is estimated that unless urgent action is taken, by 2030, tobacco's annual death toll will rise to more than eight million.
• The tobacco industry is aggressively marketing their products to women and girls in high population countries.
• Every day, some 80-100,000 young people around the world become addicted to tobacco. If current trends continue, 250 million children alive today will die from tobacco-related disease.

Breast cancer facts

• 9 out of 10 lumps are noticed and found by the woman herself
• Breast cancer presents as a lump and is usually painless
• 9 out of 10 breast lumps are not cancer
• Breast cancer is curable if detected and treated early
• 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime
• 4 000 South African women are diagnosed annually
• More black South African women are diagnosed annually
• Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women aged between 40 and 50 years
• Men also get breast cancer: 1% of population

The risk factors that may cause breast cancer

• Early onset of menstruation and late menopause
• Not having children or having your first child after 40 years of age
• Previous breast cancer
• Drinking more than two glasses of wine or alcohol daily
• No exercise
• Smoking
• Stress
• Poor diet
• Taking contraceptives and or hormonal replacement therapy for extended periods
• Obesity
• Strong family history/genetics
• Teenage and young girls who have had radiation therapy to treat lymphomas
• Previous cancer of any type
• Chemicals and pesticides