Cancer
Cancer is the most important cause of death and morbidity in Europe after cardiovascular diseases. Cancer is in many cases avoidable, and early detection increases the chance of cure substantially. WHO/Europe assists countries to develop national programmes for cancer control. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the WHO body that specializes in this field. It coordinates and conducts research on causes and develops scientific strategies for cancer prevention and control.
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- Countries urged to set national targets and implement proven interventions to prevent premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases
- Plain tobacco packaging encourages more people to stop smoking and fewer to start
- Most types of cancer not due to bad luck
In focus
1 in 100 women in Europe will develop cervical cancer
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer. It is a highly contagious infection that is transmitted through sexual or skin-to-skin contact.
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Bibione. Breathe by the sea. The story of a smoke-free beach in Italy
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Key resource
International Agency for Research on CancerAgency to promote international collaboration in cancer research
Data and statistics
20%
The percentage of deaths caused by cancer in the European Region
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