The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2050, global cancer cases will increase by over 75%.
The latest data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of WHO, clearly illustrates the growing burden of this disease, rising from 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths worldwide in 2012 to 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths a decade later.
Smoking, drinking, and obesity are the main factors leading to increased cancer rates. (Illustrative image: Getty Images).
IARC predicts that there will be over 35 million new cancer cases by 2050, a 77% increase compared to 2022, with the number of deaths nearly doubling from 2012 levels to over 18 million.
According to IARC, smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity are the primary factors contributing to the rising cancer incidence, alongside aging populations and population growth. IARC anticipates that high-income countries will report an additional 4.8 million new cases by 2050.
Lower-income countries will see the highest increase in new cases. Cancer mortality in low-income countries is predicted to nearly double. Freddie Bray, head of the cancer surveillance department at IARC, stated: “The impact of this increase will not be uniform across countries.”
Research from IARC across 185 countries covering 36 types of cancer shows that 10 types of cancer accounted for two-thirds of new cases and deaths globally in 2022. Lung cancer is the most common, representing 12.4% of new cases and 18.7% of deaths. Breast cancer is the second most common, accounting for 11.6% and causing nearly 7% of deaths. Other significant causes of cancer mortality include liver and stomach cancers.
Isabelle Soerjomataram from IARC’s cancer surveillance department highlighted the stark inequalities, particularly in breast cancer. She noted that women in low-income countries are 50% less likely to be diagnosed compared to those in high-income countries, resulting in a much higher risk of mortality due to late diagnosis and insufficient access to quality treatment.
Data shows that 1 in 12 women in high-income countries will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 71 will die from the disease. In poorer countries, only 1 in 27 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, but the mortality rate is higher at 1 in 48.
Despite being entirely preventable, cervical cancer is the eighth most common cancer globally and the ninth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It is the most common cancer among women in 25 countries, many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.
In light of these figures, Cary Adams, head of the Union for International Cancer Control, remarked: “While we have made progress in early detection and treatment of cancer patients, there are significant disparities in treatment outcomes, not only between high- and low-income regions of the world but also within each country. There are tools available to help governments prioritize cancer care and ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable services. This is not just a matter of resources, but also of political will.”
Panagiota Mitrou pointed out that such staggering figures raise a global alarm about the significant inequalities in cancer incidence and mortality rates between countries. She concluded: “Now is the time to seriously consider this global crisis if we want to turn the tide.”
