The threat to human and economic development posed by the growing burden of cancer in low- and middle-income countries is widely recognized. Cancer is now one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with an estimated 12.7 million new cases and 7.6 million deaths in 2008.

With over 7 million of these new cases and 4.8 million of the deaths, the developing world is bearing over half of this burden, but is the least equipped to cope with this situation. Cancer in developing countries is also more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and, therefore, be less responsive to treatment.

Cancer registry data also indicate that the situation is likely to get worse in the future due to the increase in the global population and as an effect of ageing: it is predicted that by 2030 the number of new cancer cases will increase to more than 21 million, and deaths to 13 million (GLOBOCAN 2008). The proportion of these occurring in developing countries will also gradually increase over time. In the absence of cancer planning and control interventions, around 70% of the global cancer burden will arise in such areas of the world.