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

Cancer diagnoses worldwide are expected to climb to 35 million annually by 2050, up from 20.6 million in 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a new report.Despite major progress in some areas — like decreased tobacco use that’s associated with 16 types of cancer — cancer is still a leading cause of death and disability.WHO is sounding the alarm that health systems around the world aren’t doing enough to curb exploding cancer rates.Only 12 countries are on track to reduce premature cancer deaths by a third by 2030.

Meanwhile, 48 countries have rising death rates from cancer, according to the report.About one in five people will get cancer in their lifetime.The most common types for men are lung and prostate cancer, respectively; for women, it’s breast and lunch cancer.

Colorectal cancer is third most common for both sexes.Cancer is also the leading cause of death after heart disease.Approximately one in nine men and one in 13 women will die from cancer before the age of 75 years old, according to the report.Asia makes up more than half of the global cancer burden, which makes sense when 60% of the world’s population lives there.

Europe has disproportionately high cancer rates, representing 21% of global cancer, and North America follows at 11%, the report said.But there’s still hope to reverse the trend.Research shows up to 40% of cancers can be prevented.“The inequities documented in this report are not inevitable; they are the consequence of choices, and they can be reversed through stronger and unified action,” said Dr.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO.“Achieving these shifts will require us all to play our part.The choices we make now and in the coming years will shape the burden and the experience of cancer for years to come.”Rising cancer rates go hand in hand with rising risk factors.While many countries have decreased tobacco use, improved diet and increased HPV vaccinations (protecting from cervical ...