Download The Cancer Continuum | The Cancer Atlas

24 TAKING ACTION
THE CANCER
CONTINUUM
An overview of
interventions and
potential for impact:
Opportunities for
cancer control exist
at all stages of the
cancer continuum,
from preventing
cancer to developing
and providing adequate
palliative care.
1 Interventions for cancer prevention and
respectively, particularly in economically
control at the individual and population levels
developing countries. Furthermore, transmission
exist across the cancer continuum from prevention
of these and some other cancer causing agents
of risk factors to early detection, treatment and
(e.g., Schistosoma haematobium, hepatitis C virus)
palliative care. 2 Tobacco use, the cause of the
can be prevented by improving hygiene and
most preventable cancers worldwide, can be
educating people to modify their high risk
substantially reduced through increased excise
behaviors. Protection from harmful sun exposure
tax on cigarettes, smoke-free air laws, restrictions
reduces the risk of skin cancer. Cancer-causing
on promotion, and counter-advertising. Indoor
occupational exposures can be prevented through
and outdoor air pollution, which account for a
improved workplace safety.
substantial proportion of lung cancer deaths, can
be reduced through use of clean stoves, cleaner
and breast cancers detects the disease at an early
fuels, proper ventilation, and air quality guide-
stage, when the chance for survival and cure is
lines and policies. 3 Vaccines against Hepatitis
B virus and human papillomaviruses could reduce
high. A heightened awareness of warning signs
the future burden of liver and cervical cancers,
cancers may also lead to detection of cancers at
2
3
Smoking cessation is beneficial at all ages, but especially before middle age.
Cervical cancer
deaths are preventable.
PROBABILITY OF DEATH FROM LUNG CANCER BY ATTAINED AGE
MALE
85+ yrs
25%
Quit at age 50–59 yrs
20%
“
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
— Benjamin Franklin
85+ yrs
20%
Quit at age 40–49 yrs
Quit at age < 40 yrs
15%
5,000
15%
10%
5%
cancers, including cancers of the breast, colon
and rectum, and testis and for many childhood
55–59 yrs
5%
80–84 yrs
Bangladesh
5,000
14,000
Ethopia
7,000
120,000
Uganda
India
5,000
5,000
Kenya
Nigeria
10%
55–59 yrs
80–84 yrs
19,000
Pakistan
7,000
Never Smoked
an early stage.
4 Effective treatment (surgery, chemothera-
25%
Quit at age 60–69 yrs
Regular screening for cervical, colorectal,
py, and radiation) has been developed for several
30%
Quit at age 70+ yrs
for cancer of the oral cavity, skin, and some other
NUMBER OF FUTURE DEATHS THAT COULD BE PREVENTED IN ONE YEAR
IF 70% OF 9-YEAR-OLD GIRLS WERE VACCINATED
FEMALE
Current Smoker
30%
Congo
60–64 yrs
60–64 yrs
Myanmar
10,000
Tanzania
cancers. For certain cancers such as testis,
treatment could lead to cure even for advanced
stage disease. Pain associated with cancer can be
65–69 yrs
controlled by administration of analgesic drugs.
Full application of these interventions globally
75–79 yrs
70–74 yrs
65–69 yrs
75–79 yrs
70–74 yrs
could prevent a substantial proportion of cancer
deaths worldwide.
1
A 70% price increase on tobacco along with a 10% reduction
in consumption through other tobacco control measures would
Interventions for cancer prevention
and control at the individual
and population levels exist across
the cancer continuum.
avoid 25 million cancer deaths by 2050.
4
Childhood cancer survival rates
have doubled over the past several
decades in higher-income countries
but lag behind in middle- and
lower-income countries.
FIVE-YEAR SURVIVAL RATE FROM CHILDHOOD CANCERS
83%
80%
2005
PREVENTION
TOBACCO CONTROL
HEALTHY DIET
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
EARLY DETECTION
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
BREAST CANCER SCREENING
CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING
SUN PROTECTION
VACCINATION
success in numbers
47,000 breast cancer
deaths worldwide could be
avoided annually
if physical inactivity were eliminated.
TREATMENT
CHEMOTHERAPY
HORMONE THERAPY
RADIATION
SURGERY
success in numbers
Biennial colorectal cancer screening
using the fecal occult blood test,
a low-cost method, can result in
a 15–20% decrease in
colorectal cancer mortality.
SURVEILLANCE
PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE
MANAGEMENT OF LONG-TERM EFFECTS
success in numbers
Due to advances in treatment,
the five-year survival rate for
testicular cancer is now
greater than 90%
END-OF-LIFE CARE
HOSPICE CARE
success in numbers
There are an estimated
33 million adult
cancer survivors worldwide
who have been diagnosed
in the past five years.
48%
PALLIATION
41%
the cumulative burden
Cancer accounts for
PAIN MANAGEMENT & PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE
in countries where treatment is available.
Canceratlas.cancer.org
Copyright © 2014 The American Cancer Society, Inc.
SURVIVORSHIP &
QUALITY OF LIFE
1998–2002
1988–1989
1973–1977
40%
1990–2001
31%
1960–1964
34% of the adult
palliative care needs
in the world.
United States
HIGHER INCOME
Slovenia
Cuba
India
LOWER INCOME
Canceratlas.cancer.org
Copyright © 2014 The American Cancer Society, Inc.