The burden of global cancer is rising and there is a "real need" to focus on preventing it through tackling smoking, obesity and drinking, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The ageing and growing population will have a predominant impact on the increasing global cancer risk, according to the WHO, with a lack of attention being paid to prevention methods.
Speaking to the BBC, WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer director Dr Chris Wild said: "If we look at the cost of treatment of cancers, it is spiralling out of control, even for the high-income countries. Prevention is absolutely critical and it's been somewhat neglected."
The number of cancer cases is predicted to increase from fourteen million people a year, to 24 million by 2035.
Claims statistics released by Aviva reveal that cancer is the most claimed for condition under critical illness (CI) cover by a considerable margin, with two thirds (66%) of all CI claims attributed to the disease.
Furthermore, all diagnosis and medical treatments for cancer account for around a fifth of the cost of all claims on private medical insurance (PMI) policies. More than £69m was paid out to cover the cost of cancer diagnoses and treatment for over 7,000 PMI customers in 2012 - an average of £9,857 per customer.
Aviva protection director Craig Colton said: "Cancer is by far and away the most common condition claimed for under our critical illness cover and a significant cause of PMI claims. Sadly we know that the number of people with cancer is rising in the UK, with now more than 330,000 people being diagnosed each year. Fortunately the outlook is improving with survival rates doubling over the last 40 years."
