WHO predicts 60% increase in cancer cases over next 20 years

World Cancer Day (February 4) aims to inform people about the disease and measures to combat it. On this occasion, health organizations around the world communicate in particular on the important role of prevention and early detection of cancers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts a 60% increase in cancers over the next two decades by 2040. This increase would even be more than 80% in low- and middle-income countries.

One in five people worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

The report highlights that smoking is currently responsible for 25% of cancer deaths. Although cancer was long considered a disease of rich countries, this is no longer the case.

Measures to reduce tobacco consumption are known and their implementation can greatly contribute to reducing these figures. Other measures to be promoted to reduce this burden include reducing alcohol consumption, vaccination against hepatitis B to prevent liver cancer, eliminating cervical cancer by vaccinating against papillomavirus.

The even greater increase in low- and middle-income countries is due in particular to a lack of investment in prevention and care. Until now, limited resources have been devoted only to combating infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health. Cancer mortality is increasing sharply and requires resources to be devoted to it. The differences between countries are also very large.

“ This is a wake-up call for all of us to tackle the unacceptable inequalities between cancer services in rich and poor countries. ", said Ren Minghui, WHO assistant director-general, in a report devoted to this subject.

©Tobacco Free Generation