Cases of cancer in the Middle East ‘to double by 2030’

ABU DHABI // The number of cancer diagnoses in the Middle East in the next two decades will nearly double unless authorities take action, the World Health Organisation has warned.

The WHO estimated that in the Eastern Mediterranean region – which included the Middle East – there were 555,318 new cases of cancer in 2012.

By 2030, this could rise to 961,098, meaning the Eastern Mediterranean will have the highest relative increase of all regions in the world.

“Regrettably, evidence shows that cancer rates continue to rise globally and regionally because of unhealthy lifestyles and limited access to treatment and good quality cancer care,” said Dr Ala Alwan, WHO regional director.

“There is a pressing need to take action to reverse this trend.”

The statistics released by the WHO to mark World Cancer Day on Thursday revealed that 400,000 people in this region will die from cancer every year.

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