By Emmanuel Onyedika
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that new cancer cases worldwide could rise to about 35 million annually by 2050, driven by population growth, ageing and increasing exposure to risk factors. The organisation stressed the urgent need for stronger prevention, early detection and improved access to quality cancer care.
The warning came with the release of the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, produced jointly with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The report highlights cancer as the world’s second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease, with an estimated 20.6 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths recorded each year. More than 26,000 people die daily from the disease.
The report calls for a fundamental shift to a people-centred approach that prioritises the health needs and lived experiences of patients, survivors, caregivers and communities. Despite progress in tobacco control, vaccination programmes and treatment investments, it notes persistent inequalities in access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care.
Disparities are particularly stark between high- and low-income countries. While 87% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive at least five years in high-income countries, the figure drops to 42% in low-income nations. Fewer than one in three countries currently include cancer care in their universal health coverage packages.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said survival should not depend on geography or income. “Cancer is a deeply personal disease that touches nearly all of us. But whether a person survives cancer should never depend on where they were born or what they earn,” he said, adding that inequalities are the result of policy choices that can be reversed.
The report underscores that most people will be affected by cancer at some point in their lives, either through their own diagnosis or that of a close family member, making it one of the most significant global public health challenges. WHO urged greater investment in equitable cancer services, stronger prevention programmes and expanded access to quality care to prevent millions of avoidable deaths in the coming decades.