The incidence of cancer worldwide is expected to increase by 75% and reach approximately 25 million over the next two decades.

The organization calls on governments to take preventive measures. In addition, the chairman of the Cancer Society, Prof. Eliezer Robinson, calls for increased cancer screenings among the elderly

Ahead of International Cancer Day 2014, the International Cancer Society presented a new report by the World Health Organization's Research Authority (IARC) according to which cancer is the leading cause of death in the world - it is estimated that 8.2 million people died of cancer in 2012. Incidence rates over 4 years increased by 11% to an estimated 14.1 million cases in 2012 - equivalent to the population of India's largest city, Mumbai!

"The increase in cancer around the world is a major obstacle to the development of humanity and its well-being, these new data send a warning signal that immediate action is required to deal with this human disaster, which affects every community around the world", declares Dr. Christopher Wild, director of IARC.
The 2014 World Cancer Report confirms that global inequality exists in relation to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer among different countries in the world. The number of deaths from cancer, among the world's poor, is increasing at a faster rate than expected.
"Governments should recognize and prepare to deal with an increase in the burden of cancer in their country. The new data from IARC shows that the global incidence of cancer will continue to increase, unless action is taken at the global level now. On International Cancer Day, we demand that governments all over the world act to stop the expected millions of deaths caused by cancer, by developing and implementing a national plan, which includes, among other things, proven prevention and effective measures for early detection. Kerry Adams, Director General of the International Cancer Society (UICC) reads.
With treatment costs rising rapidly, poor and rich countries alike must all contribute to the fight against cancer. Currently 4.2 million people die every year prematurely (aged 30-69) due to cancer morbidity over the years. If actions are not taken to develop practical strategies to respond to cancer, the premature mortality figure is expected to reach 5 million deaths per year by 2025.

Among the practical solutions to reduce premature death, Adams says, include:
Development of national cancer control programs
Increase awareness against mitigating risk factors
Development of screening programs - which have been proven to reduce mortality from some types of cancer by at least 25%.
Introduction of vaccination programs against the papilloma virus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer.

Is it necessary to prepare differently in light of the aging of the population?

Prof. Eliezer Robinson, chairman of the Cancer Society and former president of the UICC, says that the trend of increasing life expectancy and the increase in the number of recoveries is welcome, at the same time it leads to the aging of the population, and to an increasing proportion of people at an advanced age, which requires special consideration and evaluation of a system the health

According to the CBS data from 2012, the percentage of 65-year-olds in the OECD countries is 14.9. In Israel, the share of people aged 65 and over in the population is about 10%, but according to forecasts by the year 2035 their share in the population will rise to 14.6%. By the same year, the population aged 65 and over will double and number about 1.66 million people.

It is known that 50% of all malignancies appear in the population over the age of 65. The risk of developing malignancies in the population over the age of 65 is 3 times greater than in the population aged 45-64. The forecast for 2020 indicates that 60% of malignancies will appear in the population over the age of 65, and 70% of deaths from cancer will be in the age group of 65 and over.

In addition to the high morbidity rates in those aged 65 and over, there is also variation regarding the effectiveness of the absorption of the drugs, and as a result of different underlying diseases at these ages, there is also a different resistance to treatments, surgeries, and the like.

The above indicates a need for planning and assessments for the treatment of the growing amount of the elderly population and its characteristics, as well as specialization and training of geriatric oncologists and the training of an inclusive multi-professional team of caregivers.

World Health Organization Research Authority data