WHO calls for urgent action: Global cancer cases may hit 35 million by 2050

The World Health Organization has sounded the alarm over a projected surge in global cancer cases, warning that annual diagnoses could reach nearly 35 million by 2050, up from 20.6 million today, unless governments take immediate action to strengthen care systems.

In its Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, the WHO said cancer currently claims more than 26,000 lives each day, or nearly 10 million annually, making it the second leading cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular disease.

Despite advances in medical innovation and the expansion of national cancer control programs in high-income countries, the report highlighted widening disparities in access to care, leaving millions without adequate treatment.

For instance, breast cancer survival rates differ sharply across income levels. The WHO said about 87% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in high-income countries survive at least five years, compared with roughly 42% in low-income nations.

Access to treatment also varies significantly. Availability of the top 20 priority cancer medicines ranges from 68% to 94% in high-income countries, but drops to between 9% and 54% in lower-income regions.

The WHO warned that gaps in care persist, noting that fewer than one in three countries worldwide include comprehensive cancer services in their universal health coverage packages.

“Cancer is a deeply personal disease that touches nearly all of us. But whether a person survives cancer should never depend on where they were born or what they earn,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The inequities documented in this report are not inevitable; they are the consequence of choices, and they can be reversed through stronger and unified action.”

REGIONAL DISPARITIES

WHO data showed that Asia accounts for more than half of global cancer cases (50.7%) and deaths (56.5%), largely due to its population size.

Europe, meanwhile, bears a disproportionate burden, accounting for 21% of cases and 20% of deaths despite representing only 9% of the global population.

Lower cancer incidence rates are reported in Africa and parts of Asia, but these regions face higher mortality rates due to limited access to early detection and treatment.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Among men, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers are most common, while breast, lung, and colorectal cancers dominate among women.

The report also emphasized that nearly 40% of cancer cases are preventable. Major risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, high body mass index, physical inactivity, air pollution, and chronic infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B and C.

While tobacco control measures have reduced global tobacco use by 27% since 2010, Elisabete Weiderpass warned that overall progress remains slow. “The cancer profile is evolving, increasingly driven by rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and air pollution,” she said.

FINANCIAL TOLL

For the first time, the WHO conducted a global survey examining the personal and socioeconomic impact of cancer on patients and caregivers.

The findings showed that at least 45% of affected individuals experience severe financial hardship during treatment. More than half reported significant mental health challenges, while nearly all family caregivers reported physical and emotional strain.

CALL FOR ACTION

To reverse these trends, the WHO is urging governments to adopt a people-centered approach to cancer control and align national health policies.

The agency said priorities should include expanding access to comprehensive prevention, diagnosis, and treatment; strengthening social protection systems to reduce out-of-pocket costs; and directing global research and development toward public health needs to ensure that medical breakthroughs are affordable and accessible to all.