Asia's economies are developing rapidly and that is changing their health problems too.

The region is emerging as a major new source of cancer cases.

One estimate is that the number of people in Asia with cancer will rise from about 4.5 million five years ago, to more than seven million by 2020 - that is if governments fail to take decisive action.

At the moment Asians diagnosed with cancer are more likely to die than those in the developed world because they do not have the same access to screening, treatment and support.

One of the conference organisers, David Collingridge, says authorities in Asia have to act.

"Over the next 10 to 20 years the projected numbers of cancers look like they're going to double in this part of the world, which really sets the stage for a massive burden on health care resources," he said.

"So we really felt that we needed to address that problem locally." SOURCE: © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation