As the world marks Cancer Day, the World Health Organization has said that one in five people worldwide develop cancer in their lifetime.
This was contained in tweet WHO posted on its Twitter page on Thursday as part of its campaign against cancer.
It also gave advise on how people can lower the risk of developing cancer.
WHO wrote, “Don’t use tobacco, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, avoid strong sunlight for prolonged periods and drink less alcohol.
Cancer is on the rise.”
According to who, almost 20 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2020.
“Currently 1 in 5 people worldwide develop cancer during their lifetime,” it said.
The number of people diagnosed with cancer linearly increased each year by 500,000 between 2000 and year 2020, WHO noted.
Giving update on the most commonly occurring cancer types worldwide with their percentages it said:
“Breast cancer-12%, Lung cancer-11%,Colorectal cancer-10%and Prostate cancer-7%”.
Who added that cancer cases are increasing and that “in 2040, it is predicted that the number of new diagnoses of cancer will be nearly 50% higher than in 2020. While the greatest increases will be in low –and middle – income countries.”