Global cancer burden is growing

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the global cancer burden is growing. More than 35 million new cancer cases are predicted in 2050, representing a 77% rise from the estimated 20 million cases in 2022.

The rapidly growing global cancer burden reflects both "population ageing and growth, as well as changes to people’s exposure to risk factors."

The estimated number of people who were alive within five years following a cancer diagnosis was 53.5 million.

It showed that about one in five people develop cancer in their lifetime and that one in nine men and one in 12 women die from the disease.

The three major cancer types in 2022 were lung, breast and colorectal cancers. Lung cancer is the most common worldwide, with 2.5 million new cases. It is followed by female breast cancer with 2.3 million cases and colorectal cancer with 1.9 million cases.

There are 13 cancers that are associated with being overweight or obese, including cancer of the esophagus, gallbladder, liver and pancreas. Some cancers are due to avoidable exposures to industrial carcinogens in the food we eat and the cosmetics and household products we use.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), at least 18 percent of all cancers and 16 percent of cancer deaths in the United States are related to lifestyle factors such as eating habits. For example, taking supper often at late night can increase the chance of stomach cancer while eating pope’s nose (chicken backside) might cause stomach cancer.