Cancer: a reality in the emerging world.

World societies have changed significantly in the last decades. The main characteristics of these changes are reciprocal connections and interdependencies. It has been thus realized that a major part of the world population still lives in poverty. Due to specific health care interventions and consequent demographic changes, it is expected that the population in general, and of the older people in particular, will increase significantly in the future. The annual number of new cases of cancer is expected to double from 10 million at present to 20 million in the next 20 years. Considering the increases in life expectancy and in tobacco abuse worldwide, and the existence of viral diseases leading to cancer in less developed countries besides other factors, the majority of new cases will probably occur in the emerging world. The number of new cases of cancer could in the future be reduced with the enhancement of education on vertical and horizontal levels in less developed countries. On the vertical arm, the education would concentrate on physicians, nurses, and other health care workers, while on the horizontal arm, it would be provided to government officials, politicians, and other decision-makers. It should be accepted that the world is one and that the problems associated with cancer in less developed countries are global problems. Semin Oncol 28:210-216. Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.