UN health authorities has revealed that cancer cases are expected to rise around 77 per cent globally by the middle of the century, on Thursday.
According to latest figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialised branch of the UN World Health Organisation (WHO), there are predicted to be more qthan 35 million cancer cases during 2050, up from the estimated 20 million in 2022.
Richer countries are expected to have the greatest absolute increase in cancer, with an additional 4.8 million new cases predicted in 2050.
The estimates from the IARC’s Global Cancer Observatory are based on the best sources of data available from 185 countries and covers 36 different forms of cancer.
They were published alongside a WHO survey from 115 countries which showed that the majority do not adequately finance priority cancer and palliative care services as part of universal health coverage.
Ten types of cancer collectively comprised around two-thirds of new cases and deaths globally in 2022, the IARC said.
Lung cancer was the most commonly occurring form worldwide with 2.5 million new cases. It accounted for more than 12 per cent of all new cases and 18.9 per cent of deaths, 1.8 million, making it the leading cause of cancer death.
Female breast cancer ranked second in terms of occurrence, with 2.3 million cases, worldwide or 11.6 per cent, but accounted for 6.9 per cent of deaths.
Other commonly occurring cancers were colorectal, prostate and stomach cancer.
Colorectal cancer was the second leading cause of cancer death, followed by liver, breast and stomach cancer.
Cervical cancer was the eighth most commonly occurring cancer globally, the ninth leading cause of cancer death, and the most common cancer in women in 25 countries, many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.
The IARC estimates – issued ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4 – also revealed striking inequalities, particularly in breast cancer.
One in 12 women in richer countries will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime and one in 71 will die of it, the agency said.
“WHO, including through its cancer initiatives, is working intensively with more than 75 governments to develop, finance and implement policies to promote cancer care for all,” Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director of its Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, said, underlining the need for greater investment. (NAN)
