Introduction

Any introduction to the subject of cancer and its cultural meaning requires highlighting a number of medical and sociological facts. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that “Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs.” This definition mentions any cause of cancer, as there are many and it is not clear if they lead to cancer in every case. Cancer remains a serious social problem, mainly due to the social losses that result from it. We can also read on the WHO website that “Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018” (WHO 2021). The probability of getting cancer is high and will increase with the aging of society as a result of genetic and family conditions, an unhealthy lifestyle, and environmental threats.

A look at the data collected by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) two years ago shows that cancer is omnipresent throughout the world, although the data does not provide us with conclusive information as to the causes of cancer, what constitutes proper treatment and whether a person will ever be cured (Global Cancer Observatory (GCO)) (IARC 2018).