UNITED NATIONS: A new report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialized branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), projects a staggering 38% increase in global breast cancer cases by 2050. Annual deaths from the disease are expected to rise by 68%, with an estimated 3.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths each year by mid-century.
The report, published in Nature Medicine, highlights growing disparities between high-income and low- to middle-income countries. Limited access to early detection, treatment, and care in developing regions means these areas will bear the greatest burden.
“Every minute, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide, and one woman dies from the disease. These statistics are worsening,” said Dr. Joanne Kim, an IARC scientist and co-author of the study.
Rising Breast Cancer Burden Worldwide
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women globally and the second most common cancer overall. In 2022 alone, 2.3 million new cases were diagnosed, leading to 670,000 deaths. However, incidence and mortality rates vary significantly across regions.
- The highest breast cancer rates are seen in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Northern Europe.
- The lowest incidence rates are found in South-Central Asia and parts of Africa.
- The highest mortality rates occur in Western Africa, where healthcare access is severely limited.
Survival rates further underscore these disparities. In high-income countries, 83% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive. However, in low-income nations, more than half of women succumb to the disease due to late diagnosis and lack of treatment options.
Call for Urgent Action
The WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative, launched in 2021, aims to reduce global breast cancer mortality rates by 2.5% annually—a move that could prevent 2.5 million deaths by 2040.
Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, Deputy Head of IARC’s Cancer Surveillance Branch, stressed the need for better cancer data and improved healthcare policies, particularly in lower-income countries.
“Continued progress in early diagnosis and improved access to treatment are essential to closing the global gap in breast cancer outcomes,” she emphasized.
The report calls for stronger health systems, increased funding for breast cancer screening, and the adoption of cost-effective prevention policies to curb the rising trend. As breast cancer becomes increasingly preventable and treatable, global action is crucial to ensuring millions of lives are saved in the coming decades.