WHO warns cancer cases may surge

PanARMENIAN.Net - Cancer remains the world's second-leading cause of death, with around 20.6 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths recorded annually, according to the World Health Organization's Global Cancer Status Report 2026.

The disease claims more than 26,000 lives every day, and if urgent action is not taken, the number of new cases could reach nearly 35 million by 2050, Panorama.am reported.

The WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) stressed that, despite progress in recent years, inequalities in access to prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and supportive care continue to widen worldwide. According to the report, 87% of women with breast cancer in high-income countries are still alive five years after diagnosis, compared with just 42% in low-income countries. In addition, fewer than one in three countries has included cancer treatment in its universal health coverage package.

The report states that nearly 40% of cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use, excess body weight, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and certain infections. Although tobacco use has declined by 27% since 2010 and 82% of countries have adopted national cancer control plans, access to essential medicines and modern treatments remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The WHO called for a shift toward a people-centered approach that places people affected by cancer and their families at the heart of healthcare policy.

The organization urged governments and international partners to expand universal health coverage, strengthen social protection and ensure equitable access to innovative treatments, emphasizing that the decisions made today will shape the health of future generations.