Concerted Effort Needed to Tackle Cancer Epidemic. Director General Yukiya Amano Opens Scientific Forum on Cancer in Developing Countries

Without concerted, coordinated action, over 13 million people worldwide will die from cancer every year by 2030. Almost 9 million of these deaths will be in developing countries. In many low-income countries, there is not a single radiation therapy machine. Millions of people who could be successfully treated die every year. Deaths from the disease disproportionately affect the poorest people in the poorest countries. The IAEA´s expertise lies in radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, radiology and medical radiation physics. And since 1980, the IAEA has delivered over US$220 million worth of cancer-related assistance to developing countries.