There were an estimated 1.4 million new cases of cancer in men and 1.4 million in women in the EU in 2012. In the same year, approximately 707,000 men and 555,000 women died from cancer, noted a statement released by the European Commission Tuesday to mark World Cancer Day.Although significant advances are being made in the fight against the disease, cancer remains a key public health concern and a tremendous burden on European societies.Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the European Union - a figure that is expected to rise due to the ageing European population, it warned.The statement noted that the European Code against Cancer is currently being revised by the EU's executive body and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, based on the latest scientific evidence, and the fourth edition of the Code is expected to be published during 2014.