Cancer is now one of the biggest health challenges facing the world. It affects people of every age, race, and country.
Cancer is not a single disease but a group of more than 100 diseases that begin when abnormal cells grow out of control.
These cells can spread to other parts of the body if they are not found and treated. Thanks to better treatments, many people now survive cancer, but millions of others still lose their lives every year.
A new international report shows that the number of people diagnosed with cancer is continuing to grow and could rise sharply in the coming decades. Researchers say this makes prevention, early detection, and fair access to treatment more important than ever.
The report was led by the American Cancer Society together with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization.
Using information from the GLOBOCAN database covering 34 cancer types across 186 countries, the researchers estimated that almost 21 million people developed cancer in 2024 and about 9.8 million died from the disease.
They also estimated that around one in five people will develop cancer during their lifetime. Around one in nine men and one in thirteen women will eventually die from the disease.
The researchers predict that the number of new cancer cases could reach 34 million every year by 2050. This increase of about 67% is mainly expected because the world’s population is growing and people are living longer. As people age, the chance of developing cancer naturally increases.
The report also found large differences between countries. Australia and New Zealand had some of the highest rates of new cancer cases, while much lower rates were seen in parts of Africa and south-central Asia.
Death rates also varied greatly. In many lower-income countries, people were more likely to die after developing cancer because screening programs, early diagnosis, and modern treatments are often harder to access.
Lung cancer remained the world’s most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths, largely because of tobacco smoking. Female breast cancer ranked second for new cases and was the leading cancer among women.
Colorectal cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer also caused a large number of illnesses and deaths. The report highlighted major inequalities.
For example, women in Western Africa were much more likely to die from breast cancer than women in Australia and New Zealand, even though fewer women developed the disease. This points to differences in access to healthcare rather than differences in the disease itself.
Researchers say nearly half of all cancer deaths may be preventable by reducing smoking, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, preventing infections linked to cancer, and increasing vaccination and screening programs. Better access to diagnosis and treatment could save many more lives.
The research was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Overall, this report provides one of the clearest pictures yet of the worldwide cancer burden. Because it combines data from 186 countries, it gives governments and health experts valuable information for planning future cancer care. However, the report is based on population estimates and cannot predict exactly what will happen in every country.
Even so, the findings strongly suggest that many future cancer cases and deaths could be prevented through proven public health measures, earlier diagnosis, wider access to screening, vaccination programs, and timely treatment.
The message is clear: population growth will increase the number of cancer cases, but better prevention and more equal access to healthcare could save millions of lives.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that artificial sweeteners are linked to higher cancer risk, and how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and results showing vitamin D supplements strongly reduces cancer death.
Source: American Cancer Society.
