WHO warns of upcoming world cancer 'tidal wave'

The World Health Organisation predicted that the number of cancer patients will reach 19 million by 2025.

16:50 04 February 2014

WHO (aka The World Health Organisation) has warned of an upcoming world cancer ‘tidal wave’. Citing drinking, obesity, and smoking as the main culprits, WHO claim the number of people who are suffering from cancer will increase by 19million by 2025, 22 million by 2030 and 24million by 2035.

The report added that developing countries will bear the burnt of the extra cases.

Meanwhile, the figures have caused alarm to the World Cancer Research Fund.

Chris Wild, the director of the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer, said: "The global cancer burden is increasing and quite markedly, due predominately to the ageing of the populations and population growth.

"If we look at the cost of treatment of cancers, it is spiralling out of control, even for the high-income countries. Prevention is absolutely critical and it's been somewhat neglected."

WHO’s report also highlighted major sources of preventable cancer which include smoking, infections, alcohol, obesity and inactivity, radiation (both from the sun and medical scans), air pollution and other environmental factors, as well as delayed parenthood, having fewer children, and not breastfeeding.