Global Cancer Summit Report

A World Without Cancer

Cancro. Kanker. Cancer. The word itself can stir up feelings of fear and images of loss in those who come in contact with the disease personally. In any lan¬guage and in every corner of the globe, cancer is one of the most serious looming public health threats facing governments, economies, individuals and health care systems. It differs from place to place, and affects people in different ways. But one thing is certain—the fight against cancer requires leadership and immediate action.

Why?

Because in 2010, cancer is projected to become the leading cause of death worldwide—claiming more lives than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis com¬bined. The death toll is set to rise dramatically in the coming decades. These projections are both shocking and tragic because cancer is one of the most preventable and curable of the major life-threatening diseases facing the world today. Thirty percent of cancers are preventable, and one-third of cancers are treatable if detected early.

But statistics and numbers reveal only part of the story. The faces and experiences of cancer survivors, their families, friends and communities tell the rest.