Global cancer burden growing, amidst mounting need for services – PAHO/WHO

IARC estimates, based on the best data sources available in countries in 2022, highlight the growing burden of cancer, the disproportionate impact on underserved populations, and the urgent need to address cancer inequalities worldwide .

It is estimated that in 2022 there will be 20 million new cases of cancer and 9.7 million deaths. The estimated number of people who were alive within five years of being diagnosed with cancer was 53.5 million. About 1 in 5 people develop cancer during their lifetime, about 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women die from the disease.

The WHO global survey on universal health coverage and cancer shows that only 39% of participating countries covered the basics of cancer management as part of their funded basic health services for all citizens, the ‘ health benefits packages’ (PBS). Only 28% of participating countries additionally covered care for people requiring palliative care, including general pain relief, and not just pain related to cancer.

Three main types of cancer in 2022: lung, breast and colorectal cancer

The new estimates available on the IARC website World Cancer Observatory show that 10 types of cancer together accounted for around two-thirds of new cases and deaths globally in 2022. The data covers 185 countries and 36 cancers.

Lung cancer was the most common cancer worldwide, with 2.5 million new cases representing 12.4% of total new cases. Female breast cancer ranked second (2.3 million cases, 11.6%), followed by colorectal cancer (1.9 million cases, 9.6%), prostate cancer (1.5 million of cases, 7.3%) and stomach cancer (970,000 cases, 4.9%).

Lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths (1.8 million deaths, 18.7% of total cancer deaths), followed by colorectal cancer (900,000 deaths, 9.3%), liver cancer (760,000 deaths, 7.8%), breast cancer (670,000 deaths, 6.9%) and stomach cancer (660,000 deaths, 6.8%). The resurgence of lung cancer as the most common cancer is likely related to persistent tobacco use in Asia.

There were some sex differences in incidence and mortality with respect to the world total for both sexes. For women, the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death was breast cancer, while for men it was lung cancer. Breast cancer was the most common cancer among women in the vast majority of countries (157 out of 185).

For men, prostate and colorectal cancers were the second and third most common cancers, while liver and colorectal cancers were the second and third most common causes of cancer death. For women, lung and colorectal cancer ranked second and third in both number of new cases and deaths.

Cervical cancer It was the eighth most common cancer worldwide and the ninth cause of death from cancer, with 661,044 new cases and 348,186 deaths. It is the most common cancer in women in 25 countries, many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. While recognizing the different levels of incidence, cervical cancer can be eliminated as a public health problem by expanding the WHO Initiative to Eliminate Cervical Cancer.

Surprising inequality in cancer according to the Human Development Index (HDI)

Global estimates reveal striking inequalities in the burden of cancer by human development. This is particularly true in the case of breast cancer. In countries with a very high HDI, 1 in 12 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 71 women will die from it. On the contrary, in countries with a low HDI; While only one in 27 women is diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, one in 48 women will die from it.

«Women in countries with a lower HDI are 50% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than women in countries with a high HDI, but they are at much higher risk of dying from the disease due to late diagnosis and inadequate access to quality treatment,» explains Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, Deputy Chief of the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC.

The WHO global survey on PBS also revealed significant global inequalities in cancer services. Lung cancer-related services were reportedly 4 to 7 times more likely to be included in a PBS in a high-income country than in a lower-income country. On average, radiation services were four times more likely to be covered in a HBP in a high-income country than in a lower-income country. The widest disparity for any service was stem cell transplantation, which was 12 times more likely to be included in a PBS in a high-income country than in a lower-income country.

“The new WHO global survey sheds light on major inequalities and lack of financial protection against cancer around the world, where populations, especially in lower-income countries, are unable to access basic cancer care.» said Dr. Bente Mikkelsen, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO. “WHO, including through its cancer initiatives, is working intensively with more than 75 governments to develop, fund and implement policies that promote cancer care for all. “To expand this work, significant investments are urgently needed to address global inequalities in cancer outcomes.”

Projected increase in cancer burden in 2050

More than 35 million new cases of cancer are predicted in 2050, a 77% increase from the 20 million cases estimated for 2022. The rapidly growing global cancer burden reflects both aging and population growth, as well as changes in people’s exposure to risk factors, several of which are associated with socioeconomic development. Tobacco, alcohol and obesity are key factors behind the increasing incidence of cancer, and air pollution remains a key driver of environmental risk factors.

In terms of absolute burden, high HDI countries are expected to experience the largest absolute increase in incidence, with 4.8 million additional new cases predicted for 2050 compared to estimates for 2022. However, the proportional increase of the incidence is more striking in countries with low HDI (142% increase) and in countries with medium HDI (99%). Likewise, cancer mortality in these countries is expected to almost double by 2050.

“The impact of this increase will not be felt uniformly in countries with different HDI levels. “Those who have the least resources to manage the cancer burden will be the most affected by the global cancer burden,” says Dr. Freddie Bray, Head of the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC.

“Despite the progress that has been made in the early detection of cancer and in 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 or not. Tools exist to enable governments to prioritize cancer care and ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable services. It is not just a question of resources, but of political will,” says Dr. Cary Adams, director of the UICC (Union for International Cancer Control).

Note to editors

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the cancer agency of the World Health Organization. More information: IARC World Cancer Observatory.