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.

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 countains 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.

World Cancer Report 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.

Cancer is a devastating disease - but largely preventable.Its impact can be reduced through basic research and improvements in treatment and care. World Cancer Report presents opportunities for action at the individual, community and national level.

CONTENTS:

1 The global burden of cancer 12

2 The causes of human cancer 21
Tobacco 22
Alcohol drinking 29
Occupational exposures 33
Environmental pollution 39
Food contaminants 43
Medicinal drugs 48
Radiation 51
Chronic infections 56
Diet and nutrition 62
Immunosuppression 68
Genetic susceptibility 71
Reproductive factors and hormones 76

3 Mechanisms of tumour development 83
Multistage carcinogenesis 84
Carcinogen activation and DNA repair 89
Oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes 96
Cell cycle 104
Cell-cell communication 109
Apoptosis 112
Invasion and metastasis 118

4 Prevention and screening 127
Primary prevention
Tobacco control 128
Reduction of environmental
and occupational exposures 135
Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation 141
Hepatitis B vaccination 144
Human papillomavirus vaccination 148
Chemoprevention 151
Secondary prevention/screening
Breast cancer 156
Prostate cancer 160
Colorectal cancer 163
Cervical cancer 167
Oral cancer 172
Stomach cancer 175

5 Human cancers by organ site 181
Lung cancer 182
Breast cancer 188
Stomach cancer 194
Colorectal cancer 198
Liver cancer 203
Cancers of the male reproductive tract 208
Cancers of the female reproductive tract 215
Oesophageal cancer 223
Bladder cancer 228
Head and neck cancer 232
Lymphoma 237
Leukaemia 242
Pancreatic cancer 248
Melanoma 253
Thyroid cancer 257
Kidney cancer 261
Tumours of the nervous system 265

6 Cancer management 271
Surgical oncology 272
Radiotherapy 277
Medical oncology 281
Rehabilitation 292
Palliative care 297

7 Cancer control 303
Cancer control: a global outlook 304
Cancer control in developing countries 312
Perspectives and priorities 320
Contributors and Reviewers 329
Sources of figures, charts, and tables 337
Subject index