Breast cancer cases expected to rise by 38% globally in 2050, says WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says breast cancer cases are expected to increase by 38 percent globally in 2050.

According to a report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialised branch of WHO, annual deaths from the disease are also expected to rise by 68 percent.

In the report published in Nature Medicine on Monday, the WHO warned that if the current trend was not checked, the cases would continue to rise.

The organisation also said if current trends continue, the world will see 3.2 million new breast cancer cases and 1.1 million related deaths each year by mid-century.

Joanne Kim, an IARC scientist and co-author of the report, said the burden will be disproportionately felt in low- and middle-income countries, where access to early detection, treatment and care remains limited.

“Every minute, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide and one woman dies from the disease, and these statistics are worsening,” the report reads.

“Countries can mitigate or reverse these trends by adopting primary prevention policies, such as WHO’s recommended ‘best buys’ for non-communicable disease prevention, and by investing in early detection and treatment.”

Kim said breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women worldwide and the second most common cancer overall.

The report highlights significant disparities across regions.

The highest incidence rates were recorded in Australia, New Zealand, North America and Northern Europe, while the lowest rates were found in South-Central Asia and parts of Africa.

Meanwhile, the highest mortality rates were reported in Melanesia, Polynesia and Western Africa, where limited access to healthcare contributes to poorer outcomes.

In high-income countries, 83 percent of diagnosed women survive, whereas in low-income countries, more than half of women diagnosed with breast cancer die from it.