The study, published in The Lancet magazine today, Thursday, calls for enhancing prevention and treatment, especially in low and middle-income countries. It estimates that the number of new cases in 2023 ranges between 16.4 and 20.7 million, and deaths between 9.6 and 10.9 million. The study showed that the majority of patients live in low or middle-income countries, where challenges are exacerbated by a lack of health resources. The most diagnosed cancers in 2023 were tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancers, which caused the highest death rates.
Without adequate interventions, the study predicts a 61% increase in new infections by 2050, reaching 30.5 million cases, with deaths increasing by 75% to 18.5 million. Estimates for 2050 range between 22.9 and 38.9 million new infections, and 15.6 to 21.5 million deaths.
However, the study noted that 41.7% of cancer deaths in 2023 are linked to preventable risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet, excessive consumption, and high blood sugar levels. Researchers emphasized that prevention alone is not enough, urging for enhanced early diagnosis and effective treatments, along with increased funding and addressing inequalities in healthcare.
They stressed the need to intensify efforts to reduce behavioral and environmental risk factors. The study’s authors pointed out some limitations, such as the lack of reliable data in some countries, and not considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic or recent armed conflicts, which may affect the accuracy of the estimates.
