Treatment of cancer remains a huge challenge in the existing medical system and scientists across the global need to find ways to battle with it. This effort also involves recruiting pharmaceutical companies, governments and patient groups to cope with the healthcare burden.

Although once considered a problem exclusive to high-income countries, cancer is a leading cause of death and disability in the developing world. Of the 169.3 million years of healthy life lost (YLLs) globally in 2008, approximately 70% occur in the low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, 12.7 million of new cases are estimated every year, equal to approximately 35,000 new cases every day.

The researchers also determines that men in eastern Europe have the largest cancer burden worldwide (3,146 age-adjusted DALYs(disability-adjusted life-years) lost per 100,000 men). Among women, the highest burden is in sub-Saharan Africa(2,749 age-adjusted DALYs lost per 100,000 women).

Each year globally, about 14 million people learn they have cancer and 7.6 million people die from the disease. The fire types of cancer contribute to 51% of total death of cancer patients, including lung, stomach , liver ,colorectal, and breast cancer.

Additionally, the study reveals that improved access to high-quality treatment has not improved survival for a number of common cancers associated with poor outcomes. This points to the crucial role that prevention needs to play if the worldwide cancer burden is to be reduced, said Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, and colleagues.