As the World Health Organization (WHO) observes World Cancer Day, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released estimates indicating a rising global cancer burden.

In 2022, an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths were reported, underscoring the urgent need to address cancer inequities.

WHO's survey across 115 countries revealed that a majority do not adequately finance priority cancer and palliative care services, emphasizing disparities in universal health coverage (UHC).

The IARC's Global Cancer Observatory highlighted ten major cancer types, with lung cancer topping the list, followed by breast and colorectal cancers.

 Lung cancer emerged as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, underscoring the persistent impact of tobacco use, particularly in Asia. Cervical cancer was the eighth most common cancer globally, affecting 661,044 individuals and causing 348,186 deaths, with a significant prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cancer disparities based on Human Development Index (HDI) were evident, notably in breast cancer. In very high HDI countries, women face a 1 in 12 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 27 in low HDI countries.

 The likelihood of breast cancer mortality is higher in low HDI countries, emphasizing the critical importance of timely diagnosis and quality treatment.

WHO's survey on health benefit packages (HBPs) revealed substantial global inequities in cancer services. High-income countries exhibited a 4–7 times higher likelihood of including lung cancer-related services in HBPs compared to lower-income countries. The survey underscored the urgent need for investments to address global cancer outcome disparities.

The report also projected a considerable increase in the cancer burden, estimating over 35 million new cases in 2050—a 77% increase from 2022. High HDI countries are expected to experience the greatest absolute increase, with an additional 4.8 million new cases predicted in 2050. However, the proportional increase is most pronounced in low and medium HDI countries, emphasizing the uneven impact of the global cancer burden.

Dr. Bente Mikkelsen, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO, highlighted the need for major investments to address global inequities in cancer outcomes and emphasized ongoing efforts to develop, finance, and implement policies promoting cancer care for all. The report emphasizes the importance of political will to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, quality cancer services, regardless of their geographical location or socioeconomic statu