92% of people will face cancer burden as cases near 35 million by 2050: WHO

Nearly everyone in the world will be affected by cancer in some way during their lifetime, either through their own diagnosis or that of a family member or close friend, according to a new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which warns that the global cancer burden is set to rise sharply over the next 25 years.

Released on July 8, the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, developed with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), projects that annual new cancer cases will increase from 20.6 million today to nearly 35 million by 2050, a rise of 66.7%.

The report estimates that cancer currently causes nearly 10 million deaths every year, claiming more than 26,000 lives every day, making it the world's second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease.

Beyond the health impact, WHO said cancer is becoming an increasing emotional, social and financial burden for patients and their families.

The agency noted that 92% of the world's population is expected to be affected by cancer in some way during their lifetime, whether by developing the disease themselves or caring for someone who has it.

"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," WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

He added that the wide inequalities in cancer care documented in the report "are not inevitable" and can be reversed through stronger global action.

The report found that nearly four in 10 cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori.

According to Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC, while some countries have reduced cancer rates through prevention policies, progress remains too slow.

"The cancer profile is evolving, increasingly driven by rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and air pollution. Cancer prevention must remain a political priority," she



said.

The report highlights stark disparities in cancer outcomes across countries.

While 87% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least five years in high-income countries, the figure falls to around 42% in low-income countries due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to treatment.

It also found that fewer than one in three countries include cancer care as part of their universal health coverage, leaving millions without access to essential services.

Availability of life-saving cancer medicines also remains uneven, with low- and lower-middle-income countries having access to only 9% to 54% of the top priority cancer medicines, compared with 68% to 94% in high-income nations.

Asia accounted for more than half of the world's cancer cases (50.7%) and deaths (56.5%) in 2024, largely because of its population size.

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. Among men, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are the most common, while breast, lung and colorectal cancers account for the largest share among women.

The WHO's first global survey of people affected by cancer found that the disease impacts far more than physical health.

At least 45% of patients reported financial hardship, while more than half experienced mental health challenges. Nearly all caregivers said they faced significant strain, including unpaid caregiving responsibilities and social isolation.

"Cancer is not just a medical diagnosis, it profoundly affects every aspect of a person's life, and their family's as well," said Clarissa Schilstra, a childhood cancer survivor who led the WHO survey.

Although progress has been made, with tobacco use falling by 27% since 2010, more countries adopting national cancer control plans and advances in screening and treatment, the agency says these gains are not enough to keep pace with the growing burden.

The report urges governments to strengthen cancer prevention, expand access to screening and treatment through universal health coverage, invest in healthcare workers, and ensure affordable access to essential medicines.