WHO warns that cancer cases could almost double by 2050 if there is no immediate action

That’s the headline emerging from a new UN health agency report highlighting huge disparities in cancer survival between high- and low-income countries.

Ten million deaths per year

That Global Status Report on Cancer 2026produced together with the International Agency for Research on Cancer – IARC, a specialized agency WHO agency – outlined that cancer causes more than 26,000 deaths every daywith an estimated 20.6 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths each year, making it the country with the most illnesses in the world. the second cause of death after cardiovascular disease.

The report warns that although progress has been made in tobacco control, vaccination and cancer prevention, millions of people still face major gaps in access to life-saving health services.

“Cancer is a deeply personal disease and affects almost all of us. But whether someone survives cancer does not depend on where they are born or what they acquire,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that “the injustices documented in this report were inevitable; they are the consequence of choices, and they can be reversed through stronger, more concerted action.”

Stark inequality

According to the report, survival rates differ greatly between rich and poor countries. Although 87 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least five years in high-income countries, that figure drops to around 42 percent in low-income countries.

Less than one in three countries currently includes cancer services in their universal health coverage packages, leaving many patients without access to important diagnosis, treatment or supportive services.

WHO also highlights the heavy social and economic burden of this disease. Its first global survey of people affected by cancer found that:

• at least 45 percent experienced financial difficulties
• more than half reported mental health challenges
• almost all caregivers face significant stress, including unpaid care responsibilities and social isolation.

Continental variation

In 2024, Asia accounts for more than half of cancer cases and deaths, reflecting its large population.

Europewith only about nine percent of the global population, it accounts for 21 percent of cancer cases and 20 percent of deaths, placing a huge burden.

Meanwhile, many countries in Africa and parts of Asia continue to experience lower incidence rates but much higher mortality rates.

The deadliest lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Among men, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers are most commonwhile breast, lung and colorectal cancer account for the largest cases among women.

By 2024, it is estimated that 2.4 million women will be diagnosed with this disease breast cancer and 694,000 deaths globally. Breast cancer occurs in every country in the world in women at any age after puberty, but the incidence rate increases later in life.

Prevention remains the key

WHO estimates that nearly four in 10 cancer cases are related to preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diets, and infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B and C.

The agency underscored the need for prevention efforts that are in line with emerging risks.

“Even though we are seeing a reduction in cancer rates in countries that have implemented prevention policies, progress is still too slow,” said Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC.

“The profile of cancer continues to grow, increasingly driven by rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and air pollution. Cancer prevention must remain a political priority.”

Continuous progress and gaps

The report points to several important achievements over the past decade including a decline in global tobacco use, vaccination programs and stronger political commitment.

82 percent of countries now report national cancer control plans, compared with 50 percent in 2010. Scientific research is also increasing, but access to essential medicines remains highly unequal.

Availability of the 20 priority cancer drugs only ranges from 9 to 54 percent in low- and lower-middle-income countries, compared with 68 to 94 percent in high-income countries.

Put people first

WHO says cancer control must go beyond medical treatment alone by placing people with the disease and their families at the center of the health system.

“Cancer is not just a medical diagnosis – it profoundly affects every aspect of a person’s life, and that of their family,” said Clarissa Schilstra, a childhood cancer survivor who helped lead WHO’s global survey.

He urged policymakers to work more closely with people who have had cancer to design more equitable and effective health policies.