Global cancer cases will rise by more than 75% by 2050, the WHO predicts

According to the World Health Organization, the number of cancer cases in the world will increase by more than 75% by 2050.

The latest figures from the WHO’s cancer wing, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, highlight the growing burden of cancer, from 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths worldwide in 2012 to 20 million new cases and 9, 7 million deaths ten years later. The IARC predicts that there will be more than 35 million new cases of cancer by 2050, a 77% increase over 2022 levels, and that the number of deaths will have almost doubled since 2012 to more than 18 million.

The IARC said tobacco use, alcohol consumption and obesity are key factors behind the increasing incidence of cancer, as well as the aging and growth of the population.

It predicts that the highest-income countries will record an additional 4.8 million new cases by 2050, but that lower-income countries will experience the largest proportional increase in cases. Cancer mortality in the latter countries is expected to almost double.

“The impact of this increase will not be felt evenly across countries,” said Dr. Freddie Bray, head of IARC’s cancer surveillance unit. “Those with the fewest resources to manage their cancer burden will bear the brunt of the global cancer burden.”

IARCs global cancer observatorycovering 185 countries and 36 types of cancer, shows that 10 types of cancer were responsible for about two-thirds of new cases and deaths worldwide in 2022.

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, accounting for 12.4% of new cases and 18.7% of deaths. Breast cancer in women is the second most common form, but although it accounts for 11.6% of cases, it causes less than 7% of deaths. Other major causes of death are colon, liver and stomach cancer.

Inequality is particularly evident in breast cancer. Women in lower-income countries are 50% less likely to be diagnosed than women in higher-income countries, putting them at “much greater risk of dying from the disease due to late diagnosis and inadequate access to quality treatment,” says Dr. Isabelle. Soerjomataram, deputy head of the IARC cancer surveillance division.

The figures show that one in twelve women in higher income countries will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and one in 71 will die from it. In poorer countries, only one in 27 women are diagnosed during their lifetime, but one in 48 women die from the disease.

Despite being completely preventable, cervical cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the ninth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for 661,044 new cases and 348,186 deaths. It is the most common cancer in women in 25 countries, many of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

Commenting on the figures, Dr Cary Adams, head of the Union for International Cancer Control, said: “Despite the progress made in the early detection of cancer and the treatment and care of cancer patients, there are significant differences in the outcomes of cancer treatment. These exist not only between high- and low-income regions of the world, but also within countries.

“Where someone lives should not determine whether he or she lives. Tools exist to enable governments to prioritize cancer care, and to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, quality services. This is not just a matter of resources, but a matter of political will.”

Dr. Panagiota Mitrou, director of research, policy and innovation at the World Cancer Research Fund, said: “Such startling figures are raising alarm bells worldwide about the huge disparities in cancer incidence and mortality that exist between and within different countries.

“Now is the time to take this global crisis seriously if we want to turn the tide.”

Prof. Solange Peters, president of the International Cancer Foundation, said she lamented the growing gap in cancer care. “It is alarming that only 5% of global cancer expenditure reaches countries that account for 80% of the cancer burden,” she said.

“The development of more and more exciting cancer treatments is reaching (fewer) people worldwide. While patients in high-income countries can live and be cured of cancer, those in underprivileged environments die painfully from the same disease.

“We must address this social tragedy and economic burden and prevent millions of cancer deaths through strategic investments. It’s time to bridge the gap and save lives worldwide.”

Dr. Jean-Yves Blay, director of public policy at the European Society of Medical Oncology, said that ahead of the “tsunami” of new cancer cases, “rapid and decisive” action is needed to tackle pollution, asbestos exposure and its consequences reduce. other carcinogens, reduce the behaviors that increase the risk of cancer and remove barriers and hesitations to vaccination against preventable cancers.