The number of cancer deaths witnessed a significant increase in the world during a quarter of a century, and it may exceed 18.5 million cases by 2050, according to a study published today, Thursday, calling for promoting prevention and treatment, especially the least developed countries.
Despite the progress of treatment and efforts to reduce risk factors, the number of new cancer injuries has doubled since 1990 to 18.5 million cases in 2023, and the number of deaths increased by 74% to 10.4 million, according to the study published in the magazine “The Lancet” and conducted within the framework of the “Global Diseases” initiative.
These estimates – which cover 204 countries and regions and 47 species or a group of cancer – are among the most accurate studies in this field, although their results remain a margin of uncertainty. Scientists have indicated that the number of new cases in 2023 ranges between 16.4 and 20.7 million, while the number of deaths ranges between 9.6 and 10.9 million.
It turns out that the majority of patients live in low or medium -income countries.
Breast cancer was the most diagnostic species in 2023, but the trachea, bronchial and lung people were the most causing death.
Without caffeine procedures and financing, the number of new cancer injuries may increase by approximately 61% globally over the next 25 years, to 30.5 million cases in 2050, and the number of annual deaths is expected by approximately 75% to 18.5 million.
Although this scenario remains the most likely, the researchers indicated that the number of new cancer cases in 2050 may range between 22.9 and 38.9 million, while deaths may range between 15.6 and 21.5 million.
The scientists, after making adjustments that take the age factor in mind, saw that the rise in the number of cancer cases and associated deaths will mainly return to population growth and aging.
However, more than 4 cancer deaths out of the tenth of 2023 (i.e. 41.7%) are still attributed to risk factors that can be reduced or modified, especially smoking, along with an unhealthy diet, excessive consumption of alcohol, high blood sugar, and other behavioral and environmental factors.
Scientists emphasized that prevention alone is not sufficient, but rather it should be completed with early diagnosis and effective treatments, calling for strengthening efforts to reduce inequality and increase funding.
Despite its extreme importance to health policies, the study includes some restrictions, according to its ferries. For example, insufficient reliable data is not available in some countries, and has not taken into account the effect of the pandemic or recent armed conflicts.