Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- Guidelines for Chapters 22–57
- 22 Overall cancer incidence
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
22 - Overall cancer incidence
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- Guidelines for Chapters 22–57
- 22 Overall cancer incidence
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
Summary
Global cancer burden
The existence of differing patterns of cancer occurrence throughout the world has been known for many years, as perusal of the fascinating monograph published in 1915 by Hoffman, the actuary to the Prudential Assurance Company reveals. It was not, however, until 1984 that estimates (based on the year 1975) were made, not only of the global cancer burden but also for each of the 24 demographic regions recognized by the United Nations (UNO, 1986). This was later updated by Parkin et al. (1988), who estimated the global total of new cancers to be 6.35 million. This number was almost exactly divided between the sexes and between developed and developing countries, although two-thirds of the world population dwells in the latter.
The ‘top ten’ cancers are given in Table 22.1. Unfortunately, these figures are essentially estimates, since they are not uniformly collected, being derived from various sources. The latter include incidence figures from cancer registries, and incidence estimates extrapolated from mortality. For large areas of the world, numbers are based on relative frequency data, mostly obtained from the monograph Cancer Occurrence in Developing Countries (Parkin, 1986). Regrettably, the calculation of age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates, which provide a measure of the difference in risk between populations was not possible. The methods used, notably for the developing countries, are discussed in the original papers.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Human CancerEpidemiology and Environmental Causes, pp. 237 - 244Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1992