35 million new cancer cases projected in 2050; alcohol, obesity, pollution to be blamed
PTC News Desk: The number of new cancer cases is expected to rise to at least 35 million by 2050, 77% more than in 2022, according to a report released on Thursday by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The global body attributed the anticipated rise to tobacco and alcohol consumption, obesity, and air pollution.
According to the WHO, "Over 35 million new cancer cases are predicted in 2050."
In 2022, nearly 20 million cancer cases were diagnosed, with 9.7 million deaths worldwide. The estimated number of people who survived 5 years after a cancer diagnosis was 53.5 million. Cancer affects approximately one in every five people in their lifetime, with one in every nine men and one in every twelve women dying from it.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization's cancer agency, has released the most recent global cancer burden estimates. Ten types of cancer accounted for roughly two-thirds of new cases and deaths worldwide in 2022. The data includes 185 countries and 36 cancers.
Lung cancer was the most common cancer in the world, accounting for 2.5 million new cases, or 12.4% of all new cases. Female breast cancer came in second (2.3 million cases, 11.6%), followed by colorectal cancer (1.9 million, 9.6%), prostate cancer (1.5 million, 7.3%), and stomach cancer (970,000, 4.9%).
The leading cause of cancer death was lung cancer (1.8 million deaths, 18.7% of total cancer deaths), followed by colorectal cancer (900,000 deaths, 9.3%), liver cancer (760,000 deaths, 7.8%), breast cancer (670,000 deaths, 6.9%), and stomach cancer (660,000 deaths, 6.8%).
WHO also published survey results from 115 countries, which revealed that the majority of countries do not adequately fund priority cancer and palliative care services as part of universal health coverage.
The statement said “The rapidly growing global cancer burden reflects both population ageing and growth, as well as changes to people’s exposure to risk factors, several of which are associated with socioeconomic development. Tobacco, alcohol and obesity are key factors behind the increasing incidence of cancer, with air pollution still a key driver of environmental risk factors.”
According to the statement, the most developed countries are expected to see the greatest increase in case numbers, with an extra 4.8 million new cases predicted in 2050 compared to 2022 estimates.
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