Britain has been warned to brace for an explosion in cancer deaths, with deaths from the disease set to rise by more than 50 percent over the next two decades.
A rising and aging population – combined with unhealthy lifestyles – could fuel the problem, claim experts behind a damning new global report.
The new figures show that despite a record £192 billion spent on the NHS this year, Britain has one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the world, ranking 123rd out of 185 countries.
Both the US and Australia fared much better, ranking 68th and 82nd respectively in terms of death rate.
Concerned scientists today urged governments to ‘get a handle on the global cancer burden’ by tackling risk factors such as obesity and smoking.
They also urged policymakers to expand screening programs that help detect cancer early and increase survival rates.
The Australian researchers said that over the next 25 years, cancer deaths in Britain will rise from 181,807 per year to 279,004 in 2050 – an increase of 53.5 percent.
Despite currently having better cancer outcomes than Britain, America is predicted to see an even greater increase, from 605,761 deaths per year to 974,831 by 2050 – an increase of 60.9 percent.
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Brits have one of the highest cancer death rates globally – higher than the US and Australia – but fare better than the French, Portuguese and Kiwis, the study found
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Sierra Leone recorded the lowest death rate overall and Mongolia the highest.
Globally, cancer deaths are also expected to increase by almost 90 percent, from 9.7 million in 2022 to 18.5 million in 2050.
And the number of cases worldwide is expected to increase by almost 77 percent, meaning an additional 15.3 million cancer diagnoses will be diagnosed by 2050.
Lung cancer is expected to remain the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for one in five lives lost to the disease.
Writing in the diary JAMA network openedsay researchers, “cancer prevention and health promotion strategies play a critical role in reducing the global burden of cancer.”
This includes addressing “modifiable risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, obesity, UV radiation, in addition to promoting healthy and balanced diet choices, physical activity and vaccination,” she added.
‘Expansion of community-based screening programs will be important for prevention, early detection and reduction of cancer-related morbidity and mortality.’
More than 320,000 people in England – or 900 a day – are diagnosed with cancer every year, with prostate, breast, bowel and lung cancer being the most common types.
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Cancer care effectively came to a standstill for some patients in 2020 when the pandemic first reached British shores, with appointments canceled and diagnostic scans postponed due to the government’s commitment to protecting the NHS.
Experts estimate that 40,000 cases of cancer went undiagnosed in the first year of the pandemic alone.
NHS cancer services are also repeatedly failing to meet their targets.
Figures released earlier this month showed that NHS England has achieved one of three targets for cancer diagnosis.
Of the 259,432 urgent cancer referrals by GPs in August, 75.5 percent had the disease diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days.
The goal is 75 percent. Just over two-thirds (69.2 percent) of patients started their first cancer treatment within two months of an emergency referral.
According to NHS guidelines, 85 percent of cancer patients should be treated within this time frame.