The number of cancer cases worldwide has increased dramatically and doubled between 1990 and 2023.
In 2023, 18.5 million cancer cases were reported globally, with the serious disease spreading more rapidly in low and middle income countries.
This was revealed in a new medical study.
Research published in the journal The Lancet stated that nearly 50 percent of cancer related deaths can be prevented.
According to the study, cancer related deaths increased by 74 percent between 1990 and 2023, reaching 10.4 million.
The research found that more than 40 percent of cancer deaths were linked to 44 risk increasing factors, including tobacco use, poor diet, and high blood sugar.
Such deaths can be prevented by avoiding smoking, consuming healthy foods, and keeping blood sugar under control.
Researchers said that if no action is taken, cancer cases could increase by 61 percent by 2050, with more than 30 million cases reported annually.
Similarly, cancer related deaths could rise by 75 percent to reach 18.6 million.
According to researchers, given the growing burden of cancer, strong measures are needed by governments and policymakers to make prevention possible, ensure early diagnosis, and make effective treatment available globally.
They said that between 1990 and 2023, cancer cases and deaths increased worldwide despite significant advances in medical science and efforts to control cancer risk factors.
They added that cancer is a rapidly spreading disease worldwide and its burden is likely to increase further in the coming decades.
For this study, data from 204 countries were reviewed and the spread of 47 types of cancer was analyzed.
During 2023, breast cancer was the most common type, while lung related cancers caused the highest number of deaths.
Tobacco use accounted for 21 percent of cancer deaths worldwide, and the mortality rate was higher among men compared to women.
