CA: Global cancer cases projected to rise from 21 million in 2024 to 34 million by 2050

Scientists have projected that the number of new cancer cases worldwide will increase by approximately 67% by 2050, rising from 21 million diagnoses in 2024 to 34 million. At the same time, nearly half of cancer deaths could be prevented. The study was published in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

The main reason for the projected increase is not a deterioration in people’s health, but the growth and aging of the global population: the more people there are and the longer they live, the more frequently cancer occurs, as the risk of the disease increases with age. Estimates suggest that one in five people worldwide will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime.

Researchers led by Hyuna Sung of the American Cancer Society based their analysis on data from the GLOBOCAN global cancer statistics project for 2024. That year, approximately 21 million new cancer cases and 9.8 million cancer deaths were recorded worldwide. Lung cancer remained the most common type, accounting for 2.6 million new cases, or 13% of all cancer cases, followed by breast cancer in women, with 2.4 million cases.

Despite the alarming forecast, the authors emphasize that a substantial proportion of cancer cases and deaths can be prevented. According to their estimates, quitting smoking and alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity, vaccination against cancer-causing viruses, and early detection could save nearly half of those who would otherwise die from cancer.

According to the researchers, the growing burden on healthcare systems will be particularly challenging for low- and middle-income countries, where resources for cancer diagnosis and treatment are limited. The authors therefore call for greater investment in cancer prevention and early detection now to mitigate the impact of the expected increase in the global cancer burden.

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