| Life expectancy has been extended in most populations in the world (73 years for men and 78.5 years for women in the UK), and this has caused an increase in the elderly population. Individuals over 65 in the USA now comprise 12% of the population and this is expected to rise to 20% by the year 2030. As a consequence, the number of deaths attributed to cancer has steadily increased, especially in industrialised countries and among women. Specific patterns of cancer vary considerably throughout the world and gradually changing trends in mortality from cancer at different sites are apparent |