Global Cancer Cases to Surge by 75% by 2050
On World Cancer Day 4th February 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) has projected a 75% rise in global cancer cases by the year 2050. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, the WHO’s cancer arm, released the latest figures illustrating the escalating cancer burden worldwide.
From 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths reported globally in 2012, the numbers have soared to 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths a decade later. The projection for 2050 foresees more than 35 million new cancer cases which is an alarming 77% increase from 2022. The death toll is expected to nearly double, surpassing 18 million a year.
The reason for this growth include alcohol consumption, obesity, tobacco use and the challenges created by population ageing and growth. While the highest-income countries are anticipated to witness an additional 4.8 million new cases in 2050, lower-income countries are poised to experience the most significant proportional increases, with cancer mortality in these nations projected to nearly double.
“Unfortunately, we will see those in LMIC who have the fewest resources to manage their cancer will suffer the most. That’s why we need to scale up preventative healthcare models now. We have the opportunity to work with financiers to create new moonshots for cancer R&D and that why we have create our WHIS Funding vehicle World Health Service which is a fiscal sponsored programme to support cancer patients with new treatments around the world.” Gareth Presch, CEO, World Health Innovation Summit.
Inequities persist, notably in breast cancer, where women in lower-income countries are 50% less likely to be diagnosed than their counterparts in higher-income countries. This disparity places them at a significantly higher risk of death due to late diagnosis and limited access to quality treatment.
We’re working with Breast Advocate to address these challenges - Breast Advocate is the first shared decision-making app for breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction.
Co-created by breast cancer specialists and patient advocates, Breast Advocate provides evidence-based information and customised treatment recommendations based on diagnosis, personal preferences and values.
Breast Advocate was founded by Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo (WHIS Co-Chair on Shared Decision Making with Terri Coutee), an internationally recognised expert in breast cancer reconstruction and shared decision-making.
“The intersection of education, community, and technology is a powerful way to connect those affected by cancer. As a Nonprofit leader I stand beside the Founder of Breast Advocate app, Minas Chrysopoulo, MD, FACS, and Gareth Presch, Founder of World Health Innovation Summit, and World Health Service to nurture these connections in cancer care. It is through the shared decision-making model we can work to close gaps in healthcare by providing essential tools to those affected by cancer.” Terri Coutee
WHIS aims to identify opportunities for policy, socio-economic, commercial, and behavioural factors so we can adopt of cancer prevention measures.
#Cancer #Prevention #HealthforAll #WHIS