Neoplasms/epidemiology

Neoplasms are abnormal growth of cells that can be found in the body and can be either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Epidemiology is the study of the distribution, causes, and prevention of disease in populations. When applied to neoplasms, epidemiological studies are used to identify risk factors for developing certain types of cancer, understand how cancer develops over time, and measure the success of cancer treatment and prevention strategies. Neoplasms are of considerable importance in public health due to their high morbidity and mortality and hence their epidemiology plays an important role in informing public health measures to reduce the burden of cancer in a population.