GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – New data released by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer projects a significant surge in global cancer diagnoses by the year 2050. The report covers 185 countries and 36 types of cancer, predicting that the number of new cancer cases will reach 35 million in 2050, marking a 77% increase from the 20 million cases diagnosed in 2022.
In 2022, lung cancer emerged as the most common form of cancer worldwide, with 2.5 million cases diagnosed, accounting for 12.4% of all cancer cases. The report also highlighted the prevalence of female breast, colorectal, prostate, and stomach cancers as significant contributors to the global cancer burden. Furthermore, the data emphasized the disproportionate impact of cancer across countries with varying levels of human development, with women in lower-income countries facing greater challenges in accessing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Bente Mikkelsen, the director of WHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, underscored the urgent need for major investments to address the disparities in cancer outcomes across the globe, emphasizing the importance of developing, financing, and implementing policies to promote cancer care for all.
The report also cited several factors driving the anticipated increase in cancer rates, including obesity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and environmental factors like air pollution. Furthermore, the data revealed that in the United States, while the number of cancer-related deaths continues to decline, the incidence rates of certain forms of cancer are on the rise.
The increasing prevalence of cancer among younger adults and President Joe Biden’s efforts to combat cancer were also highlighted in the report, underscoring the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing the growing cancer burden. Dr. Cary Adams, head of the Union for International Cancer Control, emphasized the availability of tools to enable governments to prioritize cancer care and ensure universal access to affordable, quality services.
The report serves as an urgent call to action for governments, policymakers, and healthcare providers to address the disparities in cancer care and work towards ensuring equitable access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services for all individuals, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status.