Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 May 2009
Recently conflicting statements have been published in various countries on the prevalence and increased mortality from cancer, i.e. malignant disease in general. Statistics show a definite upward trend in the annual death rate from cancer, but opinions differ as to whether the increased mortality represents the actual increase in the incidence of the disease or is explained by such factors as the increased average age at death, improved methods of diagnosis and more careful records of the cause of death.