Global Cancer in Women: Burden and Trends

Abstract

There are striking disparities in the global cancer burden in women, yet few publications highlight cancer occurrence in this population, particularly for cancers that are not sex specific. This article, the first in a series of two, summarizes the current burden, trends, risk factors, prevention, early detection, and survivorship of all cancers combined and seven sites (breast, cervix, uterine corpus, ovary, colorectum, lung, and liver) that account for about 60% of the cancer burden among women worldwide, using data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Estimated 2012 overall cancer death rates in general are higher among women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than high-income countries (HICs), despite their lower overall incidence rates, largely due to inadequate access to early detection and treatment. For example, the top mortality rates are in Zimbabwe (147 deaths per 100,000) and Malawi (138). Furthermore, incidence rates of cancers associated with economic development (e.g., lung, breast, colorectum) are rising in several LMICs. The burden of cancer among women could be substantially reduced in both HICs and LMICs through broad and equitable implementation of effective interventions, including tobacco control, HPV and HBV vaccination, and screening (breast, cervix, and colorectum).

Incidence, mortality and risk factors of cervical cancer in the world

“…Cancer is currently the second leading cause of death, after heart disease, in the world (Torre et al, 2017), and this imposes a huge burden on societies (Cancer and Organization, 2016). Gynecological cancers are among the most common cancers in women.…”

End-of-Life Care for Patients With Advanced Ovarian Cancer Is Aggressive Despite Hospice Intervention

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Treatment patterns and associated factors in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: a population-based study

“…Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women and the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies in developed countries 1. The majority of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage (60%–76%) and therefore have a poor prognosis, reflected in a 5-year survival rate of 24% 2 3.…”