There are several cancers that can affect people throughout the world, and unfortunately, many of these are becoming more common place throughout the world.
When determining the most common cancer that is seen throughout the world, it is important to take into consideration whether the patient is female or male.
There are several cancers that are gender specific that are taking the lives of women and men throughout the world.
The Most Common Cancer
The most common type of cancer that is seen throughout the world is breast cancer. Breast cancer can affect both men and women.
In the United States alone, there are 255,000 new cases of breast cancer that are found per year.
There are around 40,000 or more deaths per year due to breast cancer. Therefore, men and women both are encouraged to self-examine themselves.
If there are lumps that are found, then doctors need to be involved to determine if this is cancerous or not.
The signs of breast cancer include:
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Large lumps being felt in the breast
- Itchy breasts
- Stiffness in the shoulders and neck
- The shape or size of the breast changes
- Discharge from the nipple that may be milky, watery or tinged with blood
- Sensitivity in the nipples
- Changes in the size and shape of the nipple
- Dimpled breast tissue
Lung Cancer
The second most common form of cancer seen in the world is Lung Cancer. This cancer affects around 222,500 people each year in the United States.
Due to this cancer, there are over 150,000 deaths seen per year.
The early signs of this cancer include:
- A lingering cough that is either dry or produces mucus can be a danger
- Having shortness of breath
- Becoming winded after simple task
- Pain in the chest, shoulders or back
- Wheezing
- Having a raspy, hoarse voice
- Weight loss
- Pain in the bones in the back or other areas of the body that is often worse at night and increases as you move more
- Headache
Those who smoke more than 30 packs per year and are between the ages of 55 to 80 years of age and have smoked within the past 15 years are considered those who are at a high risk for developing lung cancer. It is important to note that men or women can be affected by lung cancer.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one type of cancer that effects on men. Within one given year, there are around 161,000 new cases that are found in the United States.
During a given year there are around 26,000 deaths per year from this form of cancer as well.
Some of the signs of prostate cancer include:
- Having a hard time urinating
- Having to urinate more often
- Dribbling of urine which is often due to the bladder not emptying completely
- A decrease flow in the urine stream
- Blood in the urine
- Having hip or back pain along with these previous listed issues
Colon and Rectal Cancers
These two cancers are combined by most medical professionals, since they are so similar in nature.
Every year there are around 135,000 new cases of this cancer that are found in the United States.
In addition, it results in around 50,000 deaths per year.
The most common symptoms of this cancer are:
- Change in bowel habits
- Blood in the stool
- Stools that look like black tar
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in the stomach
- A feeling of fullness
- Weight loss that cannot be explained
- Feeling fatigue
Melanoma
Melanoma is a skin cancer that has over 85,000 new cases diagnosed per year in the United States. Around 9,000 people per year die from this cancer.
Signs of this cancer include:
- Sores on the skin that do not heal
- Spreading of color around a spot on the skin
- Redness or swelling around a spot, such as a mole on the skin
- Itchiness, tenderness or pain in one area of the skin
- Change in the appearance of a mole such as oozing, bleeding or a new formation of moles
Childhood Cancer
There are several cancers that are affecting only those who are considered children.
In the United States, around 10,000 children younger than 15, while 5,000 children from ages fifteen to nineteen years of age are going to be diagnosed with some form of cancer.
There is an acronym: CHILD CANCER, used for symptoms associated with child cancer. These symptoms are:
- C: continued and unexplained weight loss
- H: headaches, often accompanied with early morning vomiting
- I: increased swelling or pin in the bones
- L: Lump or masses in the abdomen, chest, neck, pelvis or armpits
- D: Development of excessive bruising, bleeding or rashes
- C: Constant or persistent infections
- A: A whitish color behind the pupil
- N: Nausea
- C: Constant tiredness or fatigue
- E: eye or vision changes that come on suddenly
- R: reoccurring or persistent fevers that have no origin
Interesting Cancer Statistics
While these are the most common cancers that are seen in the world, here are some interesting cancer statistics from around the globe:
1- Cancer is the leading cause of death throughout the world.
2- Each year around 12.7 million new people find out that they have cancer.
3- 7.6 million people die every year from cancer or the complications from this cancer.
4- The highest rates of cancer are found in Denmark as they top the rest of the world in cancer occurrences.
5- In the United States, 86% of cancers are found in those who are aged 50 years of age and older.
6- Worldwide, more men are affected by lung cancer than any other type seen.
7- Women are affected more by breast cancer throughout the world.
8- The chances of survival have doubled in nearly every country throughout the world. thanks to advanced medications and surgeries utilized to treat cancer
9- Those who are in more deprived areas have a much lower chance of surviving cancer once it is diagnosed.