50% of cancer deaths are attributed to risks that can be avoided
A recent study revealed that low-income countries are reporting a rapid increase in cases of lung, colorectal, and breast cancer.
Half of the cancer deaths that occur each year worldwide are a consequence of modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco use or physical inactivity, according to a report recently published by the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Now in its fourth edition, the Atlas of Cancer study has 47 chapters with the participation of more than 70 experts and scientists from 35 institutions around the world.
The analysis, which ACS conducted in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), notes that 19 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year, and 10 million die from the disease annually (not counting non-melanoma skin cancer).
But the Cancer Atlas warns that without intervention, the numbers could rise to 33 million cases and 18 million deaths by 2050 due to an aging and growing global population.
Furthermore, the authors note that many low-income countries are experiencing rapidly increasing cases of lung, colorectal, and breast cancer.
"Cancer death rates are disproportionately higher in many low-income countries due to lower survival rates."
Lung cancer remains the most common cancer and the leading cause of death worldwide, with 1.8 million deaths each year. More than 1 billion people use tobacco products, a leading cause of lung cancer.
Another focus is cervical cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death in women in 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, despite the HPV vaccine being highly effective.
"More than 90% of the population in low- and middle-income countries lacks access to safe and timely surgical care; and 23 low- and middle-income countries with populations greater than one million people, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, do not have access to radiotherapy," ACS added in a statement.
Vice President of ACS, states: A considerable proportion of cancer in each country can be prevented if resource-stratified measures for cancer prevention and control, such as health promotion, tobacco control, and vaccination, are implemented. These measures, in his opinion, are not optimally implemented in many countries due to a lack of political will.