Fact: 5 Most Lethal Cancers in the World

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, culpable of nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. - WHO, 2022.

In spite of the ever evolving of methods to prevent and treat cancer, it is still considered as one of the most lethal disease with rapid increase in morbidity and mortality rate worldwide. As one of the middle-income country with an approximate population of 270 million, the cancer burden in Indonesia is found to be increasing lately. 

As per the latest data from Globocan 2020, it is stated that new cancer cases rises to 141.1 cases per 100 000 population, with the mortality rate of 85.1 deaths by cancer per 100 000 population. Breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer had the highest prevalence globally, while lung cancer is considered as the most lethal cancer.

Cancer of any kind is dreadful, however, according to statistics, these are the most lethal amongst various types of cancers globally in 2020 – Goblocan 2020, WHO:

1.  Lung Cancer 

New cases of Lung Cancer in 2020                  : 2.21 million cases

Deaths caused by Lung Cancer in 2020         : 1.80 million deaths

Lung cancer is a cancer which starts in the lungs which may spread to lymph nodes or other organs in the body such as the brain; caused by smoking tobacco, secondhand smoking, exposure to asbestos or radon and also family history of cancer. Symptoms may include continued worsening long-term coughing, chest pain, coughing up blood, and etcetera. – CDC, 2021.

 2. Colorectal Cancer 

New cases of Colorectal Cancer in 2020           : 1.93 million cases

Deaths caused by Colorectal Cancer in 2020  : 916 000 deaths

Colorectal cancer is a cancer which occurs when there are abnormal growth of cells, also known as polyps, in the colon or rectum that may turn into cancer over time; the risk of colorectal cancer is higher in people with old age, including having inflammatory bowel disease and family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps. Symptoms includes blood in or on the stool, abdominal pain, aches or cramps and etcetera. – CDC, 2022.

3.  Liver Cancer

New cases of Liver Cancer in 2020                  : 905 677 cases

Deaths caused by Liver Cancer in 2020         : 830 000 deaths

Liver cancer is a cancer which starts in the liver; behaviors and conditions which may increase the risk of having liver cancer includes drinking alcohol, having cirrhosis, having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, having diabetes, having hemochromatosis, and having a long term hepatitis B or C virus infection. Symptoms includes jaundice, easy bruising or bleeding, a hard lump on the right side just below the rib cage and etcetera. – CDC, 2022.

4.  Stomach Cancer

New cases of Stomach Cancer in 2020             : 1.09 million cases

Deaths caused by Stomach Cancer in 2020    : 769 000 deaths

Stomach cancer is a cancer which forms in the linings of the stomach; caused by infection by H. pylori bacteria, smoking and certain inherited conditions. Symptoms includes abdominal pain, blood in the stool, swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen and etcetera. – American Cancer Society, 2022.

5.  Breast Cancer

New cases of Breast Cancer in 2020                  : 2.26 million cases

Deaths caused by Breast Cancer in 2020         : 685 000 deaths

Breast cancer is a cancer which occurs when the cells in the breast goes out of control; types of breast cancer includes invasive ductal carcinoma which begins in the ducts, invasive lobular carcinoma which begins in the lobules and other types according to the starting location of the breast cancer. The risk factors includes genetic mutations, reproductive history, having dense breast, taking hormones, family history of breast cancer and etcetera. Symptoms includes new lump in the breast or underarm, pain in any area of the breast, any change in the size or the shape of the breast and etcetera. – CDC, 2021.

Now that we already know the 5 types of the most lethal cancer in the world, let us get to know more what cancer is exactly.

What is Cancer?

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. It develops when the body mechanism stops working as it normally does, where instead of causing old cells to die, these cells grows out of control, resulting in new, abnormal cells, known as a tumor. However, some cancers such as leukemia do not form tumors.

 – Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA, April 27 2022.

Source: Cancer Council NSW.

It should be noted that not all tumors are cancers. As mentioned by the Cancer Council NSW in 2021, the non-cancerous tumors are known as benign tumors as they are usually not known to spread to other parts of the body and slowly grows. The cancerous tumors are known as malignant tumors which potentially spreads rapidly to other parts of the body and disrupts normal organ or body working mechanisms.

What are the Risk Factors of Cancer?

The risk factors, or also known as the things that increases the risk of developing cancer, or in laymen terms, the causes of cancer, may differ according to the type of cancer itself.

          The risk factors can be categorized into two; risk factors that can be controlled and risk factors that cannot be controlled. The risk factors that can be controlled may be related to one’s lifestyle choices, for instance, not being active, unhealthy eating, smoking tobacco and also spending too much time in the sun without necessary protection. The later, however, are related to genetics, such as getting older, or even having a family history of cancer.

          Despite that, having one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean that it is guaranteed for one to get cancer, but it does mean that they have higher chances of developing cancer than those without the said risk factors. Most importantly, one should to stop the risky lifestyle and maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce the likeliness of having cancer. Furthermore, it is crucial to recognize your risk factors and talk with your doctor regarding the best way to manage them – Cancer Council NSW, 2021.

Early Detection of Cancer

As per WHO in 2022, early detection can greatly decrease the chances of mortality due to cancer. Early identification of cancer will help increase the response of the cancer to the treatment given and enhance the probability of survival with less morbidity, including less expensive treatment. The quality of life of cancer patients can be improved by early detection of cancer and helps to avoid any delays in care. Delays in care may cause the cancer to worsen. Early detection can be done through early diagnosis and early screening. For instance, screening that can be done for early detection of breast cancer is by conducting mammogram.

Can Cancer be cured?

There is no one cure for cancer and not all cancer can be cured. The likeliness of the cancer to be cured depends on the type and stage of the cancer, the type of treatment available, and also other factors. Each cancer responds to different treatment and some are more likely to be cured than others. Treatments given to cancer patient have different goals; to cure the cancer or to stop it from spreading further. Other than that, palliative care, is a treatment which is given to reduce side effects of other treatments and helps to make cancer patients feel more comfortable. As per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2022, some examples of treatment methods that are most commonly used for cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant).

All in all, support from people around the cancer patients, be it family or friends or caregivers are greatly needed and will make a significant difference to their quality of life; especially emotional and psychological support, other than financial support. According to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), every year, on the 4th of February, World Cancer Day is celebrated with the aim to prevent millions of deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease. And thus, let's bring awareness to the public regarding cancer. Together, we can make a difference. 

References

Breast Cancer. (2021). Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/what-is-breast-cancer.htm

Cancer Risk Factors. (2021). Cancer Council NSW. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/understanding-cancer/cancer-risk-factors/

Cancer Treatment. (2022). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivors/patients/treatments.htm

Cancer. (2022). World Health Organization. Retrieved on 24th of June 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer

Carter, D. (2022). What is Cancer? MD Anderson Cancer Center. The University of Texas. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-is-cancer.h00-159537378.html

Colorectal (Colon) Cancer. (2022). Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/what-is-colorectal-cancer.htm

Ferlay J, Ervik M, & Lam F. (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://gco.iarc.fr/today.

Ferlay J, Ervik M, & Lam F. (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Indonesia Fact Sheet. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/360-indonesia-fact-sheets.pdf.

Liver Cancer. (2022). Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/liver/index.htm

Lung Cancer. (2021). Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/basic_info/what-is-lung-cancer.htm

Markman, M. (2022). What is Cancer? Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.cancercenter.com/what-is-cancer

Sung H, Ferlay J, & Siegel RL. (2020). Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA A Cancer J Clin. 2021; 71:209-249. doi: 10.3322/caac.21660.

What is Cancer? (2021). Cancer Council NSW. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/understanding-cancer/what-is-cancer/

What is Stomach Cancer? (2022). American Cancer Society. Retrieved on 24th June 2022, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomach-cancer/about/what-is-stomach-cancer.html