Cancer is on the increase globally. The disease now kills nearly eight million people a year - more than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined - with around 75 percent of these deaths occurring in developing countries.

These low- and middle income countries are worst hit by the cancer crisis. They face many more new cases each year, yet have little or no means to prevent and diagnose the disease, or, adequately treat the sick.

For over 40 years, the IAEA has been assisting developing countries introduce and improve cancer diagnosis and treatment by helping build and strengthen radiation medicine programmes.

Cancer is on the increase in Egypt and Mrs. Mubarak supports many national initiatives to fight the disease and her country supports programmes to help other countries on the African continent combat cancer.

She speaks to the IAEA′s Louise Potterton.