New cancer cases are expected to surge 77% by 2050 when compared to levels recorded in 2022, according to new data from the World Health Organization.
Two years ago, there were roughly 20 million cancer cases. However, population aging and growth are pushing these numbers upward. Tobacco, alcohol and obesity are all key factors behind the growing incidence rate, with air pollution also a key factor, WHO reported Feb. 1.
“Despite the progress that has been made in the early detection of cancers 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. Where someone lives should not determine whether they live,” Cary Adams, MBA, head of the Union for International Cancer Control, said in an announcement.
Estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer are based on the best sources of data available in 2022. That year, there were roughly 9.7 million deaths from cancer, while the number of people alive five years after a diagnosis was 53.5 million. About 1 in 5 individuals develop cancer during their lifetime and 1 in 9 men (vs. 1 in 12 women) die from the disease.
Ten types of cancer collectively comprised about two-thirds of new cases and deaths in 2022. Lung cancer was the most common occurring form of the disease with 2.5 million new cases (12.4% of the total). Female breast cancer came second with 2.3 million cases (11.6%), followed by colorectal cancer (1.9 million, 9.6%), prostate (1.5 million, 7.3%) and stomach cancer (970,000, 4.9%).
Meanwhile, lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death, with 1.8 million fatalities (or 18.7%). Other leaders included colorectal cancer (900,000 deaths, 9.3%), liver cancer (760,000, 7.8%), breast cancer (670,000, 6.9%) and stomach (660,000, 6.8%).
“Lung cancer’s re-emergence as the most common cancer is likely related to persistent tobacco use in Asia,” the report noted.
You can find further details about the latest estimates here.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.