Cancer cases worldwide are predicted to increase by 70 percent over the next two decades, from 14 million in 2012 to 25 million new cases a year, according to the World Health Organization.

The incidence of cancer globally has increased in just four years from 12.7 million in 2008 to 14.1 million new cases in 2012, when there were 8.2 million deaths. Over the next 20 years, it is expected to hit 25 million a year, a 70 percent increase.

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer type among men (16.7 percent of cases) and the biggest killer (23.6 percent of deaths). Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis for women (25.2 percent) and caused 14.7 percent of deaths, which is a drop and only just exceeds lung cancer deaths for women (13.8 percent).

Alcohol consumption, obesity and physical inactivity are all preventable causes of cancer, along with tobacco use, the report says.

By Lee Shin-young, Intern reporter (sylee@heraldcorp.com)