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snuff in the population. "The situation in Latin America is also very alarming, and perhaps worse than in Europe," he told BBC Science Dr. Eduardo Laura, Representative of Central and South America International Association of Cancer Registries. "Developed countries started from the 1970 strong control programs and cancer prevention." "But in emerging countries such as Latin America, the idea of prevention is in political discourse but not yet exercised in concrete actions," said the expert. Increase In Europe alone last year there were more than three million new TB cases and nearly two million deaths. Smoking is still primarily responsible for lung cancer. Cancer, scientists say, remains a huge public health problem. And as the population ages, they add, these numbers continue to increase. The IARC study indicates that the four most lethal cancers in the European continent are: lung, colorectal, breast and stomach. In Latin America the situation is similar, as indicated by Dr. Eduardo Laura. "In men, the primary cancer is lung, followed by colorectal cancer. And in women is breast, colorectal also followed the". The chief murderer in the world, experts say, continues to lung cancer, with nearly 30% of the total number of deaths from this disease. And the main responsible for the vast majority of these deaths is still snuff consumption. The priority, experts say, is the implementation of measures to reduce consumption rates. "In Argentina, and we could talk about various countries Latin-American, very little is done to control tobacco," said Dr. Laura. The lack of funds to implement these programs, says the doctor, is one of the main problems facing the region. "If we compare what California spends per capita in snuff control programs, compared to investing Argentina per capita per year, the difference is 1000 to 1." "And therein lies the difference in the results obtained," he adds. Lifestyle The IARC report also shows that there has been an increase in breast cancer diagnoses. If current trends continue, governments and health systems of our countries do not react urgently, the impact of the cancer epidemic will be huge in Latin America Dr. Eduardo Laura, International Association of Cancer Registries But this is partly due to screening programs have detected more cases of the disease, often in the early stages. "A type of cancer also continues to have enormous impact throughout Latin America is cervical cancer," says Dr. Laura. "Although it is so easily controlled, is a type of cancer that continues to claim many lives." Experts say that interventions to change the lifestyles of people may have a potentially important effect in reducing disease rates. But it is also necessary, they say, increase screening programs. As more and more the world will be older people, the numbers of cancer patients continue to rise. That's why, experts say, it is vital that the world's health systems implement appropriate measures to address this health problem. "The situation is very alarming," said Dr. Eduardo Laura. "If current trends continue, governments and health systems of our countries do not react urgently, the impact of the epidemic of cancer will be enormous in developing countries."