WHO: Breast cancer cases projected to surge by 38% by 2050, says “every minute, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm on a projected 38% increase in global breast cancer cases by 2050, warning that without urgent intervention, deaths from the disease could rise by a staggering 68%.

Findings from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a WHO division, reveal that breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women worldwide and the second most common cancer overall. In 2022 alone, the disease accounted for 2.3 million new cases and 670,000 deaths.

Published in Nature Medicine, the report predicts that by mid-century, the world could see 3.2 million new cases and 1.1 million annual deaths from breast cancer, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the brunt due to limited access to early detection and treatment.

The highest breast cancer rates were recorded in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Northern Europe, while South-Central Asia and parts of Africa reported the lowest. However, mortality was highest in Melanesia, Polynesia, and Western Africa, where inadequate healthcare access leads to poorer outcomes.

A stark economic divide in survival rates exists—83% of diagnosed women in high-income countries survive, compared to less than 50% in low-income regions.

In response, WHO launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative in 2021, aiming to reduce breast cancer mortality by 2.5% annually, potentially saving 2.5 million lives by 2040.

IARC scientist Joanne Kim stressed the importance of early detection and affordable treatment, stating, “Countries can mitigate or reverse these trends by adopting primary prevention policies.”

Deputy head of IARC’s Cancer Surveillance Branch, Isabelle Soerjomataram, emphasized the need for high-quality cancer data to guide policies in resource-limited nations.

With breast cancer increasingly preventable and treatable, the report underscores the urgent need for stronger healthcare systems, increased funding, and global cooperation to combat this rising epidemic.