The World Health Organization has warned that global cancer cases are expected to rise dramatically by 2050 unless governments strengthen prevention, diagnosis and treatment. While survival rates continue to improve in many countries, access to care remains one of the biggest challenges worldwide
INR Report: Based on reporting by RT https://www.rt.com/news/642795-cancer-cases-soar-who/.
WHO Predicts Sharp Rise
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that new cancer cases are projected to increase dramatically over the next quarter-century, with the disease expected to affect more than 90 percent of the world's population either directly or through a close family member.
In its latest report, the WHO said cancer remains the world's second-leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease, claiming more than 26,000 lives every day.
The agency estimates there are currently around 20.6 million new cancer cases and almost 10 million deaths each year.
If current trends continue, annual new diagnoses are expected to rise to 35 million by 2050.
The report also estimates that one in five people will develop cancer during their lifetime, with lung cancer continuing to be the deadliest form of the disease worldwide.
Access Determines Survival
Despite significant advances in diagnosis and treatment, the WHO says survival increasingly depends on where people live and their ability to afford care.
Five-year survival rates for breast cancer and childhood cancers exceed 85 percent in many high-income countries but fall below 45 percent in lower-income nations.
The report highlights major disparities in access to radiotherapy, cancer medicines and specialist treatment.
According to the WHO:
- Twenty-three countries still have no radiotherapy facilities.
- Two-thirds of countries do not include comprehensive cancer care within universal health coverage.
- Up to 90 percent of patients in some regions abandon treatment because of financial hardship.
The organisation says cancer has become one of the world's leading causes of medical bankruptcy, with almost half of all patients experiencing serious financial pressure during treatment.
Call For Earlier Intervention
The WHO argues that improving outcomes will require far more than expanding treatment alone.
Instead, governments are being encouraged to strengthen prevention programmes, improve early diagnosis, expand access to screening, and integrate cancer services into universal healthcare systems.
The report also calls for greater support for caregivers, increased investment in research, and wider access to innovative therapies.
The agency believes a more "people-centred" approach could substantially reduce preventable deaths over coming decades.
New Treatments Offer Hope
While the global outlook remains challenging, research into new cancer treatments continues to accelerate.
Dozens of countries are now developing cancer vaccines and personalised immunotherapies using a variety of approaches.
Russia is among those advancing personalised mRNA cancer vaccines tailored to individual patients.
Two experimental therapies—Neooncovac for melanoma and Oncopept for colorectal cancer—were cleared for clinical use earlier this year. More than 40 patients have since enrolled in clinical programmes, with early reports indicating encouraging immune responses.
Researchers in the United States, United Kingdom, China and Cuba are also pursuing cancer vaccine technologies through approved treatments, clinical trials and personalised mRNA platforms.
Most remain under clinical evaluation, but many scientists believe personalised immunotherapy could become an increasingly important part of cancer treatment over the coming decade.
Does This Affect New Zealand?
Relevance: Current, Long-Term and Historic
Cancer is already New Zealand's leading cause of death and one of the country's greatest health challenges. According to Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Health, approximately 27,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer each year, while around 10,000 people die from the disease annually.
As New Zealand's population ages, cancer incidence is expected to continue rising over coming decades, making prevention, early detection and timely treatment increasingly important. The WHO's projections therefore reinforce challenges already confronting New Zealand's health system rather than introducing an entirely new concern.
New Zealand has expanded national screening programmes for bowel, breast and cervical cancers, while investment has continued in radiotherapy services, precision medicine and clinical research. However, access remains uneven. Patients in rural areas often travel significant distances for specialist care, while Māori and Pacific communities continue to experience disparities in cancer outcomes, reflecting broader health inequities that successive governments have sought to address.
The rapid development of personalised cancer vaccines and immunotherapies is also relevant for New Zealand. Although many of these treatments remain experimental, New Zealand researchers and clinicians are increasingly participating in international oncology trials and precision medicine initiatives. Should these therapies prove effective through larger clinical studies, they may become part of future cancer care both here and internationally.
Historically, improvements in cancer survival have come through a combination of earlier diagnosis, better public health measures, advances in surgery, radiotherapy and drug treatments. The WHO's report suggests that the next major gains may depend not only on scientific breakthroughs, but also on ensuring those advances are accessible to all patients regardless of where they live or their financial circumstances.
Original Article
Original Article: Cancer cases to soar worldwide – WHO (https://www.rt.com/news/642795-cancer-cases-soar-who/)
Author: RT