A study published in Nature Medicine projects that the global burden of breast cancer will increase substantially by 2050, with new cases rising by 38 per cent and related deaths by 68 per cent. The research, involving the International Agency for Research on Cancer and data from nearly 50 countries via the GLOBOCAN database, emphasizes that low-HDI regions will bear the brunt of this surge.
Currently, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, with 2.3 million new cases and 670,000 deaths reported in 2022 alone. Only seven countries among them Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands meet the WHO’s goal of reducing mortality by 2.5 per cent annually under the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI).
The study found that the lifetime risk of a breast cancer diagnosis is highest in France (1 in nine) and Northern America (1 in 10), while the risk of dying from the disease is greatest in Fiji (1 in 24) and Africa (1 in 47). "By 2050, new cases and deaths will have increased by 38 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively, disproportionately impacting low-HDI countries," the authors wrote.
Researchers call for sustained investment in early detection, high-quality data collection, and improved treatment approaches to address widening inequities in breast cancer outcomes. The study highlights the need for comprehensive interventions to reduce mortality rates, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Doctors, especially in lower-HDI nations, are urged to advocate for policy changes that enhance screening accessibility and patient education, thereby helping to curb the projected rise in cases and deaths.
