Cancer: Number of new cases to increase by 77% by 2050, WHO warns

We certainly would have preferred a less dark scenario… Thursday 1st^er In February, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the arm of the World Health Organization (WHO) that specializes in the disease, published chilling estimates. According to data from 185 countries, CIRC expects the annual number of new cancer cases diagnosed to increase by 50% between 2022 and 2040 (about 30 million) and by 77% between 2022 and 2050 (35 million expected). WHO says that in 2022, 19.96 million cancers will be diagnosed.

Thus, the head of Circa’s Cancer Surveillance Unit, Dr. As predicted by Freddie Bray, one in five people will develop cancer during their lifetime. It explains: “The rapid increase in the global burden of cancer reflects changes in both population aging and growth, as well as an explosion of people with risk factors. ” The Circ cites tobacco, alcohol, obesity and air pollution “Major Factors in Increasing Manufacturing”.

2nd cause of death in the world, behind cardiovascular diseases

CIRC estimates the number of cancer deaths to be 9.74 million for the year 2022. Lung cancer was, that year, the most common cancer in the world with 2.5 million new cases, representing 12.4% of total new cases. Breast cancer ranks second (2.3 million cases, 11.6 million), followed by colorectal cancer (1.9 million cases, 9.6%), then prostate cancer (1.5 million cases, 7.3%).

Circ predicts a nearly 90% increase in deaths by 2050. Cancer is the second cause of death in the world after heart diseases. “Despite advances in the early detection of cancer and the treatment and care of cancer patients, significant disparities in cancer treatment outcomes exist not only between high- and low-income regions of the world, but also within countries »Director of International Union Against Cancer (IUCC) Dr. Cary Adams notes. According to him, it is not only a question of resources, but also of them “Political Will”.

The poorest countries will face the highest mortality rates

The WHO also published a survey of 115 countries showing that most of them do not adequately finance cancer and palliative care services, highlighting the urgency of tackling these disparities. According to the WHO, relative to population, it is the countries with the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) and therefore the poorest, which will experience the greatest increase (142%) and the highest mortality by 2050.

The Asian continent accounts for the largest number of cancer deaths (56% of the total – tobacco is the leading cause of premature death here) ahead of Europe (20%), followed by Latin America, Africa and North America (approximately 7). %) for each of these continents. Explained by the high European percentage “Record incidence rates for widespread cancers such as prostate and breast in many European countries”.Dr. Bray explains.

Prevention, early diagnosis, treatment: the three pillars of the fight

In 2022, a study published in The Lancet showed that almost half of global cancers are attributable to a given risk factor, mainly tobacco and alcohol. But most cancers are not attributable to a given risk factor. Which means that prevention alone is not enough. This, according to the authors, must be accompanied by two other pillars: early enough diagnosis and effective treatment.