Key Takeaways
- One in five people worldwide is expected to develop cancer during their lifetime.
- The number of annual cancer cases could rise to almost 35 million by 2050.
- Pakistan faces a growing cancer burden, particularly among women and children.
According to a new global report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), one in every five people worldwide is expected to develop cancer during their lifetime. The Global Status Report on Cancer 2026 further states that cancer will affect 92 percent of the world’s population, either through a personal diagnosis or through a close family member suffering from the disease.
Currently, around 20.6 million new cancer cases are reported across the world every year, while the disease causes nearly 10 million deaths annually. This means that more than 26,000 people lose their lives to cancer every day. Cancer is now the second leading cause of death worldwide after heart disease.
Experts have attributed the increase in cancer cases to several factors, including population growth, aging, environmental pollution, unhealthy lifestyles, and infections. The report warns that the rapidly increasing cancer burden could turn into a global health emergency unless governments take timely and effective measures.
The number of annual cancer cases is projected to rise to almost 35 million by 2050, marking an increase of more than 40 percent compared to current levels. This significant growth highlights the urgent need for improved prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care strategies worldwide.
Pakistan is also facing a growing cancer burden, particularly among women and children. Between 8,000 and 10,000 children in Pakistan are diagnosed with cancer every year. More than 30,000 Pakistani women develop breast cancer annually, while over 15,000 lose their lives to the disease.
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in Pakistan, with approximately 5,000 new cases reported every year. Late diagnosis, delays in treatment, and weaknesses in the healthcare system are among the main reasons behind the country’s high cancer death rate.
The report has also highlighted major inequalities in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care between rich and poor countries. Patients in low-income countries often face late diagnoses, limited treatment facilities, shortages of essential medicines, and poor access to specialist healthcare services.
For instance, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is as high as 87 percent in high-income countries but drops to only 42 percent in low-income countries. A similar gap exists in childhood cancer treatment. More than 80 percent of children diagnosed with cancer survive in wealthy countries, while the survival rate remains below 30 percent in poorer countries.
Several countries also lack basic cancer treatment facilities, including radiotherapy, while essential cancer medicines remain unavailable or unaffordable for many patients. The report noted that cancer has become more than a medical issue and is now creating serious economic and social challenges for patients and their families.
