Cancer rates are expected to nearly double in the next 24 years

Key Points:

• The World Health Organization projects global cancer diagnoses to rise from 20.6 million in 2024 to 35 million annually by 2050, with cancer remaining a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.
• Only 12 countries are on track to reduce premature cancer deaths by a third by 2030, while 48 countries face rising cancer death rates, highlighting significant global disparities in cancer control efforts.
• Risk factors such as alcohol use, obesity, and physical inactivity are worsening, and aging populations contribute to increased cancer incidence, with over half of cases occurring in people aged 65 and older.
• Access to diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care remains inadequate globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries, leading to high costs and catastrophic health expenditures for many patients and families.
• WHO urges comprehensive, integrated cancer control strategies focusing on prevention, improved data collection, and equitable resource investment, emphasizing that up to 40% of cancers are preventable through stronger public health measures.