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Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and caused by
external (tobacco, chemicals, radiation, and infectious organisms) as well as internal
factors (inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions, etc.). It is one
of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality today, with more than
10 million new cases and more than 6 million deaths each year worldwide.
More than 20 million people around the world live with a diagnosis of cancer,
and more than half of these live in the developing countries. Cancer is responsible
for about 20% and 10% of all deaths in high- and low-income countries, respectively.
It is projected that by 2020 there will be 15 million new cancer cases and
10 million cancer deaths each year.
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