1. The global economic cancer burden
Cancer is costly...
The economic cost* of cancer exceeds that of any other disease...
$753bn heart disease $895bn cancer
But cost effective
solutions exist
$1.8bn cost of reducing $0.6bn $0.8bn
$298bn stroke $203bn chronic obstructive exposure to key risk factors like smoking alcohol
pulmonary disease smoking, drinking and poor diet
$204bn diabetes $204bn traffic accidents
$0.4bn diet
and exercise
and could prevent
$141bn suicide
$45bn
tubercolosis
$25bn
malaria
$193bn HIV/AIDS
1 in 3
cancer cases
* Economic losses from disability and premature deaths. Excludes direct medical costs.
Sources: American Cancer Society, Livestrong, World Health Organization. Information is Beautiful
See bit.ly/cancerburden for full data list.

2. One in three cancer cases can be prevented
Tips to reduce your cancer risk
For every 100 people who get cancer
33 cases could be prevented through simple lifestyle changes
Eat well
5 a day Shake off salt Stay out of the red Not so sweet
An apple a day keeps the doctor Too much salt increases Eating lots of beef, pork and lamb, Sugary soft drinks, sweet and fatty foods
away - literally. Eating fruit and veg your risk of stomach cancer. bacon and sausages is associated cause weight gain, which increases
may reduce risks for many cancers. Eat no more than 5g a day. with colorectal cancers. your cancer risk. Water's better.
Take care
Good for the gut Get sweaty Know your limits Love your skin
Eating lots of fibre (in fruit and 30 mins of physical activity a day Alcohol increases cancer risk. No more Sizzling in the sun - or on a sunbed -
veg and wholegrains) cuts your risk (60 mins for children) reduces than two drinks for men and one for increases your risk of developing skin
of colorectal cancer. risk for several major cancers. women per day. cancer, especially if you're under 30.
Get involved
Quit! Downsize Get vaccinated Become an eco warrior
The world’s single, biggest cause Being overweight is linked with Infections like Hep B, C and HPV cause up Environmental pollution of air, water
of cancer. More than 25% of all cancer several cancers such as oesophagus, to 20% of cancer deaths in developing and soil with cancer-causing chemicals
deaths. 10% of all adult deaths. colorectal, breast and kidney. countries (9% in developed). accounts for 1-4% of all cancers.
Sources: World Health Organization, World Cancer Research Fund.
See bit.ly/cancerburden for full data list. Information is Beautiful

3. Cancer mortality compared to other diseases
number of worldwide
deaths per year caused
by non-communicable
30.4m Total non-communicable
diseases (including cancer,
cardiovascular diseases,
diseases respiratory diseases, diabetes)
number of worldwide
deaths per year
7.6m
caused by cancer
2.5m
Good news - 1 in 3
avoidable deaths with
prevention, early
detection and
treatment
% fatality rate 60%
(chance of a person cancer
dying if they have
the disease)
1.8m 1.3m 830,000 375,000 350,000 340,000
deaths per year
HIV/AIDS tuberculosis malaria seasonal flu hepatitis C meningitis
69% fatality rate 17% 0.3% 0.1% 10% 49%
164,000 110,000 55,000 18,650 774 41
measles cholera rabies (untreated) MRSA SARS* bird flu
0.6% 3% 100% 20% 9.5% 58%
* Figures for SARS are based on deaths in 2002-3.
Sources: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Globocan 2008, PubMed. Information is Beautiful
See bit.ly/cancerburden for full data list.

4. Health inequalities - Where you live matters
Income level influences 5 year survival rate
Country level income
high low
high low
mid mid
5 year
All Lymphoma
survival cancers Bladder Breast Cervix Colon Larynx Liver Lung
(Hodgkin)
Ovary Pancreas Prostate Skin Stomach
rate
100%
90%
Lack of public awareness of breast
80% cancer remains a critical obstacle in
developing countries where it is
commonly diagnosed at an advanced,
less treatable stage
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
Safe, effective and affordable HPV
20% vaccines may prevent up to 70% of
cervical cancer cases
10%
HBV immunisation of infants is the
most effective strategy for preventing
0% deadly liver cancer
All Lymphoma
Bladder Breast Cervix Colon Larynx Liver Lung Ovary Pancreas Prostate Skin Stomach
cancers (Hodgkin)
Country level income
high low
high low
mid mid
Note: the lack of a colour spot means missing data.
Sources: International Agency for Research on Cancer, UK Office for National Statistics, National Cancer Institute. Information is Beautiful
See bit.ly/cancerburden for full data list.

5. Race for Life
Incidence and mortality in the developing and developed world
developed countries developing countries
cases mortality
people per 100,000 population people per 100,000 population
256 148 All cancers 101 111
200 100 100
60 50 40 30 20 10 10 20
9 3 Bladder 2 3
66 27 Breast 11 15
18 9 Cervix 3 10
30 11 Colorectum 6 12
In 2008 cervical cancer claimed the
9 2 Kidney 1 3
In 2008 there were almost 500,000 lives of 275,000 women of which 88%
million breast cancer deaths with were in developing countries
3 2 Larynx 1 1
60% of these occurring in
developing countries.
7 4 Leukaemia 3 4
13 5 Liver 5 12
31 19 Lung 17 25
2 1 Lymphoma 0 0 In 2008 there were 694,000 deaths from
(Hodgkin)
liver cancer with almost 85% of cases
9 4 Lymphoma 2 3 occurring in developing countries.
(Non-Hodgkin)
9 4 Oesophagus 3 7
4 4 Lip/oral cavity 1 2
1 0 Nasopharynx 0 1
3 2 Other pharynx 1 2
9 5 Ovary 3 5
7 2 Pancreas 2 6
62 12 Prostate 6 10
9 1 Skin melanoma 0 1
15 11 Stomach 7 12
6 2 Thyroid 0 1
60 50 40 30 20 10 10 20
Sources: International Agency for Research on Cancer, Globocan 2008.
See bit.ly/cancerburden for full data list. Information is Beautiful