Cancer around the world

For years, it was assumed young women in poor countries had a higher risk of dying in childbirth than from cancer — but a new study shows that’s changing.

Experts say breast and cervical cancers are killing more women than labour in more than 60 developing countries.

Officials estimate about 343,000 women die in childbirth every year, most in the developing world.

In comparison, breast cancer kills 425,000 women a year, while cervical cancer kills about 200,000.

The increase in breast cancer is partly explained by aging populations.

But eating more fatty foods and exercising less, especially in Asia and Latin America, is also driving the growth