The World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts new annual cancer cases will surge by 77% in coming decades – from 20 million in 2022 to over 35 million in 2050.
WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported the 5 most common types worldwide currently are:
- males: lung (15.2%), prostate (14.2%), colorectum (10.4%), stomach (6.1%) and liver (5.8%);
- females: breast (23.8%), lung (9.4%), colorectum (8.9%), cervix uteri (6.9%) and thyroid (6.4%).
Worldwide mortality is highest for lung cancer (16.8%), followed by breast (12.7%), colorectum (8.1%), liver (7.4%) and prostate (7.3%). However, mortality from cancer varies significantly throughout the world.
IARC noted people in countries with a ‘lower human development index’ may receive diagnoses later and have a lower chance of access to quality treatment, which can significantly increase the risk of poor cancer health outcomes.
Survey data found only 39% of countries with a ‘lower human development index’ included basic cancer management as part of health benefit packages for their citizens.
IARC noted environmental factors and lifestyle choices also contribute to cancer’s impact: for example, increase in lung cancer cases is related to continued use of tobacco in Asia.
Other contributors to overall cancer increases include alcohol use, obesity rates, poor nutrition and exposure to air pollution.
