WHO warns of alarming increase in cancer cases by 2050: “It will affect almost every family”

The devastating physical, emotional, and economic consequences of cancer are experienced daily by millions of individuals across the globe, as the disease claims over 26,000 lives every 24 hours.

These data have been made public in the latest global report of the World Health Organization (WHO), which draws attention to the fact that without urgent intervention, the number of new diagnoses will undergo a dramatic rise in the coming years.

Currently, the world registers approximately 20.6 million new cancer cases and about 10 million fatalities each year, ranking this pathology as the second leading cause of death globally, just behind heart disease.

WHO specialists estimate that, in the absence of robust preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures, the annual number of new cases could reach almost 35 million by 2050.

Conceived in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the Global Cancer Status Report 2026 examines the steps taken in the battle against the disease, including prevention strategies, the fight against tobacco consumption, immunization campaigns, and funding for treatment.

However, the material underlines deep inequalities in the population’s ability to access medical services.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that cancer remains a deeply personal disease that affects almost every one of us, but stressed that the chance to survive it should never depend on a patient’s nationality or economic level.

According to him, the disparities reflected in the report are not inevitable; they stem from political decision-making and can be corrected through more genuine collaboration.

The report shows large differences in survival among those affected. While in wealthy countries, around 87% of women with breast cancer live at least five years after diagnosis, in poor countries this indicator drops to about 42%.

Furthermore, fewer than one in three states have integrated oncological care into universal health coverage schemes.

In a large number of countries, the lack of medicines, equipment, and proper services still poses a serious obstacle for the sick.

WHO emphasizes that the vast majority of people will encounter cancer during their existence, whether directly through a personal diagnosis or indirectly through a family member.

Beyond the health impact, the disease causes massive socio-economic damage. The WHO’s first global survey of cancer patients and their families highlighted that 45% of them face financial challenges, over half suffer from mental health disorders, and almost all caregivers face exhaustion, unpaid work, and social alienation.

Referring to 2024 statistics, Asia bore the largest share of the disease burden in the world, with 50.7% of global cases and 56.5% of cancer deaths. Meanwhile, Europe, although it accounts for only about 9% of the planet’s population, registered approximately 21% of new cases and 20% of fatalities.

On the other hand, many African nations and some Asian regions report fewer cases, but have a disproportionately high number of deaths, due to the lack of timely diagnosis and treatment.

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. In men, the most widespread forms include lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer, while in women the heaviest burden is borne by breast, lung, and colorectal cancer.

WHO estimates that about 4 in 10 cases of the disease are linked to avoidable risk factors, such as tobacco use, HPV infections, hepatitis B and C, alcohol, obesity, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy dietary patterns.

The data show progress, but gaps persist. Tobacco use has declined by 27% since 2010, which has helped reduce lung cancer cases in some countries. Also, tumors caused by infections are shrinking thanks to the expansion of vaccination programs and improvements in hygiene and infection control.

Currently, 82% of states have national cancer control strategies, a significant increase from only 50% in 2010. However, access to therapies remains unequal. The availability of 20 essential anticancer drugs ranges from 9% to 54% in modest-income states, compared to 68% to 94% in industrialized countries.

The report issues an urgent call to governments and international bodies to place the patient at the epicenter of oncological policies. WHO suggests three main axes of action: strengthening capacities by including cancer control in universal health coverage and investing in personnel; enhancing protection by involving patients and families in the policy-making process; and generating more value by orienting scientific research toward real public health needs and guaranteeing equity in access to treatments.

According to WHO, the choices and investments made today will be decisive for the burden that cancer will bequeath to future generations. Experts emphasize that only a more humane and fair approach can significantly reduce the impact of this disease worldwide.