Cancer has become one of the most significant diseases threatening human life and health. In 2022, there were 19.97 million new cancer cases and 9.74 million cancer-related deaths worldwide, imposing a heavy burden on society. A systematic and comprehensive understanding of the cancer burden is the cornerstone for formulating effective prevention and control strategies. Open-source databases, represented by the GLOBOCAN database and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, provide critical support for obtaining the latest cancer burden data, identifying key areas for prevention and control, guiding screening and early diagnosis and treatment, and evaluating the effectiveness of intervention measures. However, the field of cancer big data also faces challenges, such as insufficient data standardization and inadequate privacy protection mechanisms. In the future, while ensuring patient privacy and security, efforts should be made to further improve data quality, promote data sharing, enhance the equity of cancer prevention and treatment resources, and strengthen international collaboration. These measures will reasonably advance the precision and scientific development of cancer prevention and control strategies, with the aim of reducing the cancer burden and contributing to global health and well-being.