World Situation of Cancer:

It is estimated that there are over 20 million people living with cancer in the world today. The majority lives in the developing world. Cancer is spreading in such a pace that each of us will be touched either as a patient, a family member or a friend. Cancer, evoking such desperation that it has become a metaphor for grief and pain, a scourge straining our intellectual and emotional resources. The world still conjures up deep fears of a silent killer that creeps up on us without warning.

Tobacco has been identified as the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world today; it is responsible for about 30% of all cancer deaths in developed countries and a rapidly rising proportion in developing countries in the underprivileged community. It is the only consumer product available which kills half its regular users.

Situation of Cancer in Bangladesh:

With the increase in the incidence of Cancer in the country, it has become a matter of serious concern for Bangladesh. Although definite figures about the incidence of cancer is not available, it is estimated that there are around 1 million cancer patients in Bangladesh and about 200,000 new cases are being added every year. Around 150,000 cancer patients die annually. These figures, according to Bangladesh Cancer Society, translate to:

- A prevalence rate of 71.0 per 1,000 persons
- An incidence rate of 1.8 per 1,000 persons
- A mortality rate of 1.3 per 1,000 persons as compared to an overall crude death rate of 4.8 per 1,000 persons