The agency said in a report that these countries had focused their limited resources on combating infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health instead of fighting cancer. It said they consequently had the highest cancer mortality rate. The report, timed to coincide with World Cancer Day, said an investment of 25 billion USD over the next decade could save seven million lives from cancer. It also found that overall, cancer cases in the world would rise by 60% by 2040, adding that tobacco use was responsible for 25% of cancer deaths.