The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a concerning report indicating that breast cancer cases are expected to rise by 38% globally by 2050.
The findings, published in *Nature Medicine* on Monday, come from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialized branch of WHO, which also predicts that annual deaths from the disease could increase by 68%.
The report emphasizes that if current trends persist, the world could see 3.2 million new breast cancer cases and 1.1 million related deaths each year by mid-century. “The burden will be disproportionately felt in low- and middle-income countries, where access to early detection, treatment, and care remains limited,” the report states.
Dr. Joanne Kim, an IARC scientist and co-author of the report, highlighted the gravity of the situation: “Every minute, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide and one woman dies from the disease, and these statistics are worsening.”
She urged that countries can mitigate or reverse these trends by adopting primary prevention policies, including WHO’s recommended ‘best buys’ for non-communicable disease prevention, as well as by investing in early detection and treatment.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women globally and the second most common cancer overall. In 2022 alone, an estimated 2.3 million new cases were diagnosed, with 670,000 deaths reported. However, the report reveals significant disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality across different regions. The highest incidence rates were recorded in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Northern Europe, while the lowest were found in South-Central Asia and parts of Africa. Mortality rates are particularly alarming in Melanesia, Polynesia, and Western Africa, where limited healthcare access leads to poorer outcomes.
The report underscores a stark link between breast cancer survival and economic development. In high-income countries, 83% of diagnosed women survive, whereas in low-income countries, more than half of women diagnosed with breast cancer succumb to the disease.
In response to this growing crisis, WHO launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative in 2021, aiming to reduce breast cancer mortality rates by 2.5% per year, potentially preventing 2.5 million deaths by 2040. The initiative focuses on early detection, timely diagnosis, and access to quality treatment.
Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, Deputy Head of IARC’s Cancer Surveillance Branch, stressed the importance of high-quality cancer data to inform better policies in lower-income regions.
“Continued progress in early diagnosis and improved access to treatment are essential. These will help to address the global gap in breast cancer and ensure that the goal of reducing suffering and death from breast cancer is achieved by all countries worldwide,” she stated.
As the projected rise in breast cancer cases and deaths looms, the international community faces an urgent challenge. Coordinated action is essential to ensure that millions of lives are not lost to a disease that is increasingly preventable and treatable.
