EMERGING global statistics have revealed that by 2050, there are projected to be 35 million new cases of cancer reported, according to a recent report from the American Cancer Society. Alarmingly, an estimated 20 million cancer cases were newly diagnosed in 2022, and 9.7 million people died from the disease worldwide.
Globally, cancer is a significant health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Freddie Bray, Cancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France, and colleagues summarised the global cancer statistics by world region for 2022, based on updated estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Several concerning findings were discussed; lung cancer, for example, is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, and the leading cause of cancer death overall, and in males, with almost 2.5 million cases and 1.8 million deaths. Demographics-based predictions indicate that the annual number of new cases of cancer will reach 35 million by 2050, a 77% increase from the 2022 level. Moreover, the researchers highlighted the fact that in many low-income countries, cancer mortality rate remains high despite low cancer incidence, due to lack of, or inadequate early detection, and treatment services.
In response to these findings, the researchers recommended the following approach: “Investments in prevention, including the targeting of key risk factors for cancer (including smoking, overweight and obesity, and infections), can avert millions of future cancer diagnoses, and save many lives worldwide, bringing huge economic, as well as societal dividends, to countries over the forthcoming decades.”
