The latest Global Status Report on Cancer 2026 by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has warned the world of a serious threat, saying that 92% of the world’s population will be affected by cancer at some stage and one in five people will become a victim of cancer in their lifetime.
The report states that 26 million new cases of cancer are being reported from all over the world annually, the number of deaths has reached 10 million annually, more than 26 thousand lives are being lost every day and cancer has become the second biggest killer disease after heart diseases.
By 2050, cases are expected to reach 35 million, 8 to 10 thousand Pakistani children suffer from cancer every year, more than 30 thousand women in Pakistan suffer from breast cancer every year and more than 15 thousand lose their lives.
In addition, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among Pakistani women, with 5,000 new cases annually. Access to treatment is severely limited in low-income countries, while millions of families are facing financial and mental devastation. If timely measures are not taken, this crisis could paralyze the global health system. According to the report, the burden of cancer is increasing rapidly worldwide and if current trends continue, the disease could become a global emergency in the coming decades.
The data shows that not only is the number of patients increasing, but the mortality rate also remains consistently high, largely due to late diagnosis, delayed treatment and weak health systems.
The data further states that the number of new cases could reach 35 million annually by 2050, which would be an increase of more than 40 percent from the current level.
According to experts, factors such as population growth, aging, environmental pollution, unhealthy lifestyles and infections are playing a key role behind this increase, which increase the risks of cancer many times over.
An important aspect of the report is the global inequality in treatment and facilities. In high-income countries, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is up to 87%, while in low-income countries it is only 42%.
Similarly, the survival rate for childhood cancer in rich countries is more than 80%, while in poor countries it is less than 30%. Moreover, in many countries, even basic facilities such as radiotherapy are not available, while access to essential medicines is also limited.
Cancer is not only a medical problem but has also become a major economic and social crisis. According to a global survey, about 45% of patients suffer from severe financial stress, while more than half of them suffer from mental health problems.