Cancer rates are rising, with diagnoses expected to increase 55% globally between 2022 and 2045, going from about 19.9 million in 2022 to 30.9 million in 2045, according to a new report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Mortality is also set to increase, from 9.7 million people in 2022 to 16.6 million globally in 2045, said the IARC, which is the World Health Organization’s cancer agency.
The “growing burden” of cancer worldwide underscores the importance of addressing inequities, the agency said. It noted that the increase is being driven by aging populations, air pollution, alcohol use, obesity and tobacco use.
“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,” Cary Adams, head of the Union for International Cancer Control, said recently.
The UICC is pushing for increased funding to address cancer disparities, more screening programs for common cancers and more cancer-related offerings in national health programs. services into national health benefits, and implementing common cancer screening programmes.
