On World Cancer Day 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that one in five people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point.
Started in 2000, the day is held annually on February 4 and aims to raise global awareness to improve education and call for government action.
Ahead of World Cancer Day, the WHO released a report stating that there will be more than 35 million new cancer cases per year by 2050, a 77 percent increase from the estimated 20 million new cases in 2022. He says he will.
According to the report, a global WHO study on universal health coverage and cancer found that only a few participating countries cover basic cancer management as part of their “health benefits package” for all their citizens. This has been shown to be 39%.
Only 28% of participating countries additionally covered care for people with palliative care needs, including general pain relief, not just those related to cancer.
Dr. Freddie Bray, head of cancer surveillance at the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, said there will be an estimated 9.7 million new deaths in 2022 and “53 million deaths within five years of cancer diagnosis.” More than that are still alive.”
“Lung cancer is also the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for 1.8 million deaths and 19 percent of all cancer deaths, followed by colorectal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and gastric cancer. ” he explained to City News.
The WHO said countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) are expected to see the “largest increase in absolute incidence”, with an additional 4.8 million new cases projected to occur in 2050. There is.
Meanwhile, the number of infections is estimated to increase by 142% in countries with low HDI and 99% in countries with medium HDI, and mortality rates in these countries are predicted to “nearly double” in 2050. has been done.
“The impact of this increase will not be felt equally across countries with different HDI levels. Those with the least resources to manage the burden of cancer will bear the brunt of the global cancer burden. It will be,” Bray said.
The Canadian Cancer Society says lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women, accounting for nearly a quarter of all cancer deaths.
It is estimated that about 240,000 people were newly diagnosed with cancer last year, and about 87,000 people died from cancer.
Dr. Cary Adams, president of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), said in a news release that despite advances in early cancer detection, cancer treatment outcomes are at a global disadvantage. He said that there are not only differences in recovery, but also disparities within countries. .
“Where someone lives should not determine whether or not they live,” he says.
“Tools exist to help governments prioritize cancer care and ensure that everyone has access to affordable, quality services. This is not just a matter of resources, it is a matter of political will. ”
Although the Government of Canada says the overall risk of death from cancer has declined since 1988 and continues to invest in cancer research, approximately 1.5 million Canadians are living with cancer. It is recognized that over 1,500 more people are diagnosed with cancer each year.
“Today, on World Cancer Day, we must reduce our own cancer risk and help those we love to do the same, so that we can look forward to a healthier, brighter future, no matter where we live. Let’s do our best,” said Health Minister Mark Holland.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research joined G7 Cancer, a global cancer research initiative, in May 2023 as a founding member.
Its members include France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
