Developing Comprehensive National Cancer Control Programs in Iraq Focusing on the Leading Cancers | ||
| Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal | ||
| Editorial, Volume 22, Issue 4, October 2023, Pages 368-371 PDF (151.73 K) | ||
| DOI: 10.52573/ipmj.2023.182257 | ||
| Author | ||
| Nada A. S. Al Alwan* | ||
| Baghdad University Medical College Oncology Teaching Hospital, Medical City Currently, Visiting Professor, Oxford University | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Cancer, the leading cause of death worldwide, is emerging as a major public health challenge of this era (1). Currently there are over 50 million people living with cancer all over the world with an estimated 10 million dying annually from the disease; nearly 70% are from developing countries (2). Cancer incidence and mortality rates will continue to rise owing to demographic changes associated with population growth and aging (3); the highest are likely to be registered in low- and middle-income communities for reasons attributed to lifestyle modification, urbanization, exposure to carcinogens and limited resources for diagnosis and treatment (4). The financial, physical and emotional strains on cancer patients and their families yield a considerable economic impact specifically when the disparities in access to care within the weak health systems lead to advanced stages at cancer presentations, prolonged disability and premature deaths (5). According to the latest global cancer statistics (1,2), breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy worldwide (11.7%), surpassing lung cancer (11.4%) and followed by colorectal (10%), prostate (7.3%) and stomach cancers (5.6%). On the other hand, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality (18%), followed by colorectal (9.4%), liver (8.3%) stomach (7.7%) and breast cancers (6.9%). | ||
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