Cancer cases worldwide could rise nearly 70% by 2050, new study finds; Every 5th person on the globe may develop cancer in their lifetime - Researchers explain why there is still hope

Cancer cases worldwide could rise sharply over the next quarter-century, with a new analysis projecting a 67% increase by 2050. Researchers estimate that roughly 1 in 5 people worldwide will develop cancer during their lifetime, highlighting the growing global burden of the disease. Yet the outlook is not entirely bleak. The researchers say nearly half of cancer deaths could potentially be avoided through changes to modifiable risk factors, while early detection and timely treatment could prevent additional deaths. The findings come from Global Cancer Statistics 2024, a major analysis based on GLOBOCAN estimates. The study was produced by researchers from the American Cancer Society and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency. The study was written by Hyuna Sung, Adalberto M Filho, Mathieu Laversanne, Jacques Ferlay, Rebecca L Siegel, Isabelle Soerjomataram, Ahmedin Jemal and Freddie Bray. It was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians under the title 'Global cancer statistics 2024: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 34 cancers in 186 countries'.

CANCER CASES COULD REACH 34.4 MILLION BY 2050

Nearly 21 million people were diagnosed with cancer worldwide in 2024, while 9.8 million died from the disease, according to the analysis. Researchers project that annual cancer cases could reach about 34.4 million by 2050. That would represent a 67% increase from 2024. Importantly, the researchers attribute the projected rise to population growth and aging, meaning the increase does not necessarily indicate that cancer risk itself will rise by the same amount. The study also estimates that about 1 in 5 people worldwide will develop cancer during their lifetime. About 1 in 9 men and 1 in 13 women are expected to die from cancer.


CANCER BURDEN VARIES WIDELY AROUND THE WORLD

The researchers found major differences in cancer rates between regions. Cancer incidence varied by roughly four to five times, with Australia and New Zealand recording the highest rates and some areas of Africa and South-Central Asia recording the lowest. Lung cancer remained the leading cancer worldwide for both new cases and deaths. Nearly 2.6 million lung cancer cases were recorded in 2024, while the disease caused about 1.9 million deaths. Tobacco use remains its main driver. Female breast cancer ranked second for global diagnoses, with about 2.4 million cases and 694,000 deaths. Colorectal cancer followed, with more than 2 million new cases and 918,000 deaths. The researchers also highlighted major differences in cancer survival. Women in Western Africa, for example, were twice as likely to die from breast cancer as women in Australia and New Zealand, despite having about half the incidence rate. Researchers linked this gap to unequal access to diagnosis and treatment.

RESEARCHERS SEE MAJOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PREVENTION

The most encouraging part of the analysis is its focus on prevention. According to Science Daily, Dr. Hyuna Sung, senior principal scientist for cancer surveillance at the American Cancer Society and lead author, said nearly half of cancer deaths are estimated to be avoidable through potentially modifiable risk factors. Dr. Sung also said additional cancer deaths could be prevented through early detection and timely treatment. Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society and a co-author, emphasized the need for stronger prevention efforts. These include helping people quit tobacco use, avoiding cancer-linked infections, abstaining from alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and getting more daily exercise, reported the outlet.

The projected rise in cancer cases presents a major global health challenge, but the researchers say the future is not predetermined. Population growth and aging alone are expected to push annual diagnoses toward 34.4 million by 2050, yet a substantial share of cancer deaths could potentially be prevented. Tobacco control, healthier lifestyles, vaccination against cancer-linked infections, screening, earlier diagnosis and timely treatment could all make a meaningful difference. The findings also show why access to quality cancer care matters, as survival can vary dramatically between regions. For researchers, the growing burden is also an opportunity to strengthen prevention and ensure that effective cancer control reaches people worldwide.