​Cancer cases expected to rise to 35 million worldwide by 2050.

Close to 20 million cancer cases were newly diagnosed in 2022 around the world and 9.7 million people died from the disease, according to the newest edition of Global Cancer Statistics 2024, released April 4 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The report is authored by American Cancer Society researchers and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and accompanied by a consumer-friendly companion publication, Global Cancer Facts & Figures 5th Edition. 

The global cancer burden 

The report also showed other key trends on the global cancer burden, which is expected to reach 35 million cancer cases by 2050. 

• Every day in 2022, approximately 1,800 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and almost 1,000 women died from the disease worldwide. Cervical cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death in women in 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in Latin America. Incidence rates are highest in Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania (65 to 96 per 100,000), 10 to 16 times higher than in the United States (6 per 100,000).
• Globally, only 15% of eligible girls have received the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV), with coverage varying from 1% in Central and Southern Asia to 86% in Australia and New Zealand. Likewise, only 36% of women worldwide have undergone screening for cervical cancer with substantial disparities across countries. For example, only 4% of screening eligible women have been screened for cervical cancer in Ethiopia, compared with nearly 100% of women in Sweden and The Netherlands.
• Many low-income countries have high cancer mortality rates despite low cancer incidence, largely due to lack of or inadequate early detection and treatment services. For example, breast cancer mortality rate is twice as high in Ethiopia than in the United States (24 versus 12 per 100,000), despite a 60% lower incidence rate in Ethiopia (40 versus 100 per 100,000). 
• Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death overall and in men worldwide, with almost 2.5 million cases (1 in 8 cancers) and 1.8 million deaths (1 in 5 deaths). In males, it is followed by prostate and colorectal cancers for incidence and by liver and colorectal cancers for mortality. In females, however, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death, followed by lung, colorectal and cervical cancers.

“This rise in projected cancer cases by 2050 is solely due to the aging and growth of the population, assuming current incidence rates remain unchanged,” said Dr. Hyuna Sung, ACS senior principal scientist, cancer surveillance and co-author of the report. “Notably, the prevalence of major risk factors such as consumption of unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, heavy alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking are increasing in many parts of the world and will likely exacerbate the future burden of cancer barring any large-scale interventions. 

Prevention and tobacco control are two key strategies for addressing this growing global cancer burden, said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, ACS senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science and senior author of the study.

“With more than half of cancer deaths worldwide being potentially preventable, prevention offers the most cost-effective and sustainable strategy for cancer control,” he said. “Elimination of tobacco use alone could prevent 1 in 4 cancer deaths or approximately 2.6 million cancer deaths annually.”

How ACS is working globally 

ACS is working around the globe to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. The organization:

• Is focused on global cancer prevention, treatment, and patient support.
• Has a commitment to health equity at the core of our mission, and we collaborate with partners in low- and middle-income countries to reduce the stark disparities in cancer outcomes.
• Engages global cancer organizations to advocate for cervical cancer elimination, such as through co-chairing Cervical Cancer Action for Elimination (CCAE) with Cancer Research UK to engage and activate civil society organizations to accelerate efforts to achieve the WHO's global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer.
• Promotes the demand and uptake of HPV vaccination and screening to prevent cervical cancer with a focus on lower- and middle- income countries (LMICs) – from India, to Kenya, to Colombia.
• Supports the African Cancer Coalition’s effort to develop and disseminate national policies and the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Helps improve access to essential cancer medicines.
• Provides healthcare professionals in Africa with education on the safe use of pain medicines, resulting in significant improvements in average pain scores among patients through the Treat the Pain initiative.
• Prepares and equips health professionals, hospitals, and cancer organizations to provide effective patient-centered cancer education, such as through the Enabling Quality Interactions between Providers and Patients through Education Delivery (EQUIPPED) Initiative.
• Expands patient navigation implementation to LMICs, such as through the Building Expertise, Advocacy, and Capacity for Oncology Navigation (BEACON) Initiative.

ACS researcher Rebecca Siegel was a co-author on Global Cancer Statistics 2024. Chenxi Jiang contributed to the study. 

Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Bill Dahut spoke with CNN about the announcement. Like and share the news on X.