Cancer is a general term for abnormal cell growth, with over 100 known types of cancer (National Cancer Institute). NCI also states, “approximately 40.8 percent of men and women [living in the United States] will be diagnosed with all cancer sites at some point during their lifetime.” Currently over 13 million people are living with a cancer diagnosis and 1/2 million died in in the United States in 2013.
According to the World Health Organization, 7.6 million people died from cancer in 2008 and the number of individuals diagnosed is on the rise (Gallagher, 2013). Expectations are the number of cases to reach 19 million by 2025.
The rise is due to more cases of breast cancer. Current methods of dealing with the disease include breast removal, radiation and chemotherapy. Early detection is vital; A study out of India suggests radiation and removal are not effective for late term breast cancers .
References
Gallagher, J. (2013, December 11). Global cancer cases reach 14 million, World Health Organization says. BBC. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25346639
Kelland, K. (2013, December 11). Cancer deaths rise to 8.2 million, breast cancer sharply up. Reuters. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-cancer-global-idUKBRE9BB0DM20131212
National Cancer Institute. (unknown). What is cancer? Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cancerlibrary/what-is-cancer
WHEC.com (2013, December 11). Radiation and surgery may not be as effective with late-stage breast cancer. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://www.whec.com/news/stories/s3242023.shtml
World Health Organization. (2013). Cancer. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://www.who.int/cancer/en/