The WHO International Agency for Cancer Research has issued a warning indicating that cancer will impact one in five people during their lifetime and will affect virtually the entire world population.
Global Statistics and Projections
According to the document, 20.6 million individuals received a positive diagnosis in 2024, a number projected to rise to 35 million by 2050. The specialized WHO agency emphasizes that, considering the effects on close relatives, about 92% of all people on the planet will be affected by cancer at least once.
Inequality in Treatment and Survival
The report highlights that the experience of patients with the disease is extremely unequal globally. Chances of survival depend more on the country of residence and the patient's economic situation than on the stage of the cancer. The WHO provides examples with recent estimates on breast cancer and childhood cancer survival: in high-income nations, where diagnosis is early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 85%, while in low-income countries, this rate drops below 30%.
Mortality and Prevention Progress
Additionally, cancer is a growing factor of premature mortality, with only 12 countries on track to meet the goal of reducing this indicator by one third by 2030, while 48 countries are registering increasing rates due to the rising burden of the disease. Despite this data, the WHO recognizes advances in prevention, such as a 27% reduction in tobacco consumption prevalence.
Vaccination and Healthcare Access
Regarding cervical cancer, the implementation of single-dose vaccination schemes has generated significant progress toward eradication goals, with 85% of countries incorporating the vaccine into their national programs. However, the document warns of a considerable gap in the application of this measure. For breast cancer, global results vary drastically: survival exceeds 85% in rich countries, but reaches only 40% in many low- and middle-income nations.
Financial Barriers and Recommendations
The report points out that only 39% of countries include a basic cancer treatment package in their universal health coverage, implying that a large part of the world's population lacks essential care. The WHO warns that even when treatment is available, it may be unattainable in low- and middle-income countries, where high direct costs cause catastrophic financial difficulties and lead to high rates of treatment abandonment, reaching 90% in certain scenarios.
The new WHO global agenda recognizes that most cancer patients will live with the disease and not be cured. Therefore, the organization calls for a worldwide effort to actively promote health, ensure social protection, and reduce the stigma associated with the disease, presenting seven recommendations, such as strengthening cancer control in universal health coverage and improving community health promotion.