A new World Health Organization report has warned that where people live and how much they earn continue to determine their chances of surviving cancer….reports Africa News Desk
Stark disparities between rich and poor countries continue to shape cancer survival rates, with millions of people lacking access to timely diagnosis, treatment and supportive care, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, produced jointly with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), warned that without urgent action, annual cancer cases are projected to rise from an estimated 20.6 million today to nearly 35 million by 2050.
Cancer currently claims more than 26,000 lives every day and remains the world’s second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths each year.
The report found significant inequalities in cancer outcomes between high-income and low-income countries. While 87 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least five years in high-income countries, the figure falls to around 42 per cent in low-income countries. It also noted that fewer than one in three countries currently include cancer care within 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,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
“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,” he added.
Beyond its health impact, cancer continues to place a heavy financial and emotional burden on patients and their families. WHO’s first global survey of people affected by cancer found that at least 45 per cent experienced financial hardship, more than half reported mental health challenges, and nearly all caregivers said they faced significant strain, including unpaid care responsibilities and social isolation.
The report highlighted considerable regional differences in the global cancer burden. Asia accounted for more than half of all cancer cases and deaths in 2024, while Europe recorded a disproportionately high share of cases and fatalities despite accounting for only around nine per cent of the global population. Many countries in Africa and parts of Asia continue to experience lower cancer incidence but higher mortality rates.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are the most common among men, while breast, lung and colorectal cancers account for a significant proportion of cases among women.
WHO said nearly four in ten cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and helicobacter pylori.
“While we are seeing reductions in some cancer rates in countries that have implemented prevention policies, progress has been too slow,” said Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC.
“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 noted progress in several areas, including declining tobacco use, wider vaccination coverage against infection-related cancers, stronger national cancer control plans and a rise in cancer research. However, it said these gains have not translated into equitable access to care.
Essential cancer medicines remain unavailable to many patients in poorer countries, with the availability of the top 20 priority cancer medicines ranging from just 9 per cent to 54 per cent in low- and lower-middle-income countries, compared with 68 per cent to 94 per cent in high-income countries.
Calling for a people-centred approach to cancer control, the WHO urged governments and international partners to integrate cancer care into universal health coverage, strengthen social protection for patients and families, invest in healthcare workers and ensure equitable access to innovations in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
