In Developing Countries, Cancer is Rising
Soon, cancer will overtake heart disease as the number one killer in America and it is on the rise in developing countries. Contributing factors such as tobacco use, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, obesity, alcohol consumption, excessive sun exposure, prevention of certain chronic infections, and selected other environmental factors are getting increasing attention by the American Cancer Society. While just 10 percent of all cancers in the economically developed world are a function of infection, that figure rises to one-quarter of all cancers in third world countries. Infectious agents, such as hepatitis B and C viruses, human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein–Barr virus, certain other viruses, and Helicobacter pylori bacteria are known to increase cancer risk.
