Efforts to reduce global cancer disparities begin with an understanding of geographic patterns in cancer incidence, mortality, and prevalence. Using the GLOBOCAN (2002) and Cancer Incidence in Five Continents databases, we describe overall cancer incidence, mortality, and prevalence, age-adjusted temporal trends, and age-specific incidence patterns in selected geographic regions of the world. For the eight most common malignancies-cancers of lung, breast, colon and rectum, stomach, prostate, liver, cervix, and esophagus-the most important risk factors, cancer prevention and control measures are briefly reviewed. In 2002, an estimated 11 million new cancer cases and 7 million cancer deaths were reported worldwide; nearly 25 million persons were living with cancer. Among the eight most common cancers, global disparities in cancer incidence, mortality, and prevalence are evident, likely due to complex interactions of nonmodifiable (ie, genetic susceptibility and aging) and modifiable risk factors (ie, tobacco, infectious agents, diet, and physical activity). Indeed, when risk factors among populations are intertwined with differences in individual behaviors, cultural beliefs and practices, socioeconomic conditions, and health care systems, global cancer disparities are inevitable. For the eight most common cancers, priorities for reducing cancer disparities are discussed.

REATMENT OF HODGKIN DISease (HD) represents one of the major medical successes of the 20th century. Fifty years ago, the typical patient survived only a few years, 1 whereas the current 5-year relative survival rate is 85%. 2 In the United States alone, approximately 120000 survivors of HD 2 are at risk for the serious late sequelae of curative therapies, including the occurrence of new primary cancers. 3,4 Second malignant neoplasms are now the leading cause of death in longterm survivors of HD, 5,6 with breast cancer representing the most frequent solid tumor among women. 7,8 Estimates of breast cancer risk appear inversely related to age at treat-Author Affiliations are listed at the end of this article.

Since 2001, the World Health Organization classification for hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms has provided a framework for defining acute leukemia (AL) subtypes, although few populationbased studies have assessed incidence patterns and patient survival accordingly.We assessed AL incidence rates (