Cancer, a devastating disease worldwide, is a global health challenge both in the developed countries and in the developing countries. In low-income nations, epidemiologic data are worsening in terms of incidence and mortality, while the mortality rates are decreasing in high-income nations. Cancer risk factors are also very high in poor countries. The weakness of health systems, lack of infrastructures and limited medical facilities could partially explain these alarming observations. Nevertheless, lack of public health policies targeting these chronic diseases, or more largely non-communicable diseases, might deteriorate the current epidemiologic situation. New public health approaches that take into account the populations social, cultural and economic aspects are needed for an efficient control of these pathologies, especially in Africa.