WHO today released a report on the impact of cancer worldwide, warning of the increase in the number of cases, the disproportionate impact on people with fewer resources and the need to address inequalities in treatment at a global level. global. The document, prepared by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), estimates that there will be about 20 million cases of cancer and 9.7 million deaths in 2022. The document provides a forecast of the number of cancer cases that will be diagnosed in 2050, estimating a 77% increase to up to 35 million cases. Population growth, aging and other factors such as alcohol or tobacco consumption and obesity are among the causes that justify this prediction. Air pollution is another culprit identified by the WHO. Overall, one in nine men and one in twelve women dies of cancer. The organization also estimates that 53.5 million people are still alive five years after a cancer diagnosis.
The organization also released another study today covering 115 countries showing that the majority are underfunding treatments as part of universal health coverage. Only 39% of countries cover primary care and only 28% provide additional coverage for people who need pain and palliative care.
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The IARC estimates that ten of the 36 cancers considered account for two-thirds of new cases and deaths. Lung cancer is the most common disease, accounting for 12.4% of new cases (2.5 million); Second is breast cancer at 11.6% (2.3 million); This is followed by colorectal diseases with 9.6% (1.9 million); The fifth is the prostate with 7.3% (1.5 million); and this is followed by stomach cancer at 4.9% (970,000 cases). In terms of deaths, lung cancer was the deadliest, accounting for 18.7% of deaths (1.8 million); In second place is the intestines with 9.3% (900,000); Liver, the third, with 7.8% (760,000); Breast cancer is fourth at 6.9% (670,000); Stomach cancer is fifth at 6.8% (660,000). The WHO believes that the resurgence of lung cancer, which causes most deaths, is due to tobacco use in Asia.
Some tumors have different effects depending on the region. This is the case with cervical cancer, which is the eighth most common cancer worldwide but is most common in 25 countries, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Cervical cancer caused by the human papillomavirus can be prevented with regular screening and vaccinations, and the WHO has a program to eliminate or dramatically reduce it as a public health problem.
The lack of equity capital is also dramatic, as shown by the data presented today. In countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI), one in twelve women is diagnosed with breast cancer, but only one in 71 dies from it. However, in countries with a low HDI, although only one in 27 people will receive this diagnosis, one in 48 will die from this type of tumor, an imbalance that is due to the lack of effective treatments and early diagnosis. Such disparities are observed in all types of cancer. Although overall the countries with a high HDI will see a larger increase with an expected 4.8 million diagnoses by 2050, those with a low HDI will see an increase of 142% and those with a medium HDI will see an increase of a 99%, those that will experience greater proportional growth.
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