Lung cancer worldwide, cases

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) includes approximately 20-25% of all cases of lung cancer seen worldwide. SCLC differs from other types of lung cancer in its more aggressive course and its superior responsiveness to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The main modality of treatment for SCLC is combination chemotherapy. Eor patients with limited disease achieving a major response on chemotherapy, this is usually combined with concurrent thoracic irradiation. Prophylactic whole brain irradiation is often administered to complete responders because of the high probability of CNS relapse with associated morbidity. 

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide (WHO 2008) and the second leading cause of death in the United States (Kung et al. 2008). There were 7.9 million deaths and 11.3 million new cases of cancer worldwide in 2007 with the number of cases expected to increase over the next 20 years (WHO 2008). Lung, liver, stomach, colon, and breast cancer are the five leading global causes of cancer mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 40% of cancer deaths worldwide are preventable (WHO 2008). 

Cancer is a major health issue worldwide. The most common solid tumors are breast, colorectal, ovarian, prostate and lung cancer, which account for more than 3.2 million new cases annually, and 1.7 million deaths each year [1]. In addition, large numbers of individuals are diagnosed with and die each year from hematological malignancies such as lymphomas (>166000 new cases and 93 000 deaths, respectively) or leukemias (144000 new cases and 109000 deaths, respectively). Early detection combined with advances in surgery and external radiotherapy have improved the prognosis for many patients with solid tumors in which the disease is confined to the primary anatomical site, but the outlook for patients with advanced disseminated cancer remains poor. Lymphomas and leukemias are more... 

The annual incidence rates (crude and age-standardized) and the numbers of new cases of cancers at 18 major sites in 1985 were estimated for 24 areas of the world [1] the data for the IS commonest cancers in men and women are summarized in Table 16.1. Lung cancer is the commonest cancer in men and the incidence rates are increasing in both developed and developing countries it is now the 3rd commonest cancer among women in North America and the 5th commonest worldwide. Breast cancer is still the commonest cancer in women, followed by cancer of the cervix. Wruldwide, cancers of the colon and rectum are the 3rd commonest cancers in both sexes. Canco s of the urinary bladder and pancreas are more common in developed than in developing countries. The incidence of lymphoma appears to be increasing. 

Primary and secondary malignant hepatic tumors are a major health problem worldwide. While metas-tases are common in western countries, primary liver cancers are frequently diagnosed in Asia and Africa. However, recent data suggest that the incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Western nations are on the rise (Taylor-Robinson et al. 1997 Llovet et al. 2003). Likewise, the liver is the most common site for metastases. In 25%-50% of patients with malignancies liver metastases were observed at autopsy (Bernardino et al. 1982). The most frequent primary sites are colon, breast, pancreas, and lung. In the case of colorectal metastatic disease, the liver is the only metastatic site in 20%-30% of patients (Sasson and Sigurdson 2002). 

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