The number of people getting cancer worldwide is set to increase by half in the next 20 years, a major report said yesterday.
People in poorer parts of the world will suffer most cancer deaths because of lack of access to detection and treatment.
Developing countries will also suffer from increasing rates of cancer caused by "industrialised" lifestyles and those linked to infections.
The warnings come in a report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is linked to the World Health Organisation.
It says that by 2012 14 million people a year are contracting cancer globally – and this is set to rise to 22 million within 22 years. Deaths from cancer will increase from 8.2 million a year to 13 million a year.
Director Dr Christopher Wild said: “Despite exciting advances, this report shows that we cannot treat our way out of the cancer problem.
"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.”
The charity Cancer Research UK said it believed half the cases of cancer could be prevented.
As well as controlling tobacco, cancer rates could be cut by HPV vaccination and low-tech screening techniques, it said.
Jean King, from the charity, said: “People can cut their risk of cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices, but it’s important to remember that the government and society are also responsible for creating an environment that supports healthy lifestyles.
"It’s clear that if we don’t act now to curb the number of people getting cancer, we will be at the heart of a global crisis in cancer care within the next two decades.”
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