ABSTRACT
Cancer is one of the three leading causes of death for the productive age group 15 to 55 years in both developed and developing countries. The other two leading causes of death are accidents and cardiovascular diseases. In general, there are three approaches available for controlling a cancer: prevention, early detection, and curative therapy. In reviewing the eight most common tumors globally, it is evident that not all approaches are effective for most tumors. Although for most cancer patients, pain relief and relief of other common symptoms is the only realistic option, few of the cancer control resources go to palliative care and generally, there is little or no training of health care professions in this type of care. In developed countries, 67% of male and 60% of female cancer patients will die of their disease. A number of countries are now beginning to consider cost-effectiveness in developing national strategies to control cancer.
