Bermuda's only oncologist, Dr. Terence Sparling, has hundreds of patients.

As statistics have not been kept since 2002, it's difficult to know how scarce or prevalent any particular cancer is in Bermuda.

But as the man who sees almost all cancer sufferers here, Dr. Sparling said he thinks the percentages here are in line with those seen in the US. He estimated 40 percent of his active patient list have breast cancer. "I see more patients with breast cancer than any other type," he said.

Dr. Sparling said the next most common cancers he sees are colorectal or some other part of the gastro-intestinal tract, prostate cancer and lymphomas.

He strongly suggests smokers drop the habit and non-smokers continue to stay away from it. "Smoking increases your risk of cancer by 85 percent," he said. "Drop it and you significantly reduce your risk."

Other risk factors include obesity, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.