Cancer, with its high prevalence and mortality rate, continues to rank among the world's deadliest and most costly diseases. According to the World Health Organisation, (WHO), in 2003, about 25 million people live with cancer and nearly 11 million new cases are diagnosed each year.

Cancer is a major burden on the global community - 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women in developed nations will be directly affected by cancer in the first 75 years of life.

The following websites provide information, facts and figures on cancer incidence, death rates and survival rates:

American Cancer Society www.cancer.org

National Cancer Institute (US) www.cancer.gov