Policy and cancer care

Cancer is a major challenge for health systems worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Each year, the disease is responsible for an estimated 10 million deaths annually.1 Approximately one-third of cancer deaths are the result of lifestyle factors highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention, public health, and early detection.1 In low and middle-income countries, 30% of cases are the result of cancer-causing infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis.1 As treatments ameliorate and more patients survive cancer there are also wider issues of long-term impact on health systems.