Cancer on the rise at alarming rate

GLOBAL cancer rates could increase by a further 50% to 15 million new cases each year by 2020, according to a report published yesterday.

The World Cancer Report calls on governments, health practitioners and the general public to take urgent action to stem the alarming trend.

It claimed healthier lifestyles and increased awareness could prevent as many as one-third of the world's cancers. In 2000, malignant tumours were responsible for 12% of the 56 million deaths from all causes worldwide.