A very scary and eye-opening warning has emerged regarding public health at the global level. According to the ‘Global Status Report on Cancer 2026’ released by the World Health Organization (WHO), if countries around the world do not make major improvements in the prevention, early detection (screening) and treatment infrastructure of this deadly disease with immediate effect, then cancer can take the form of an epidemic in the next 25 years. According to the shocking estimates of the report, the number of new cases of cancer globally may increase from today’s 20.6 million (about 2.06 crore) to 35 million (3.5 crore) annually by the year 2050. The UN health body has also slammed governments globally over the huge and inhumane disparities in cancer treatment and availability across the world. Second biggest cause of death after heart disease: More than 26 thousand people are dying every day. Analyzing the current health data, cancer currently remains the second biggest cause of human death after heart diseases globally. Currently, every year around 10 million (one crore) people lose their lives due to this silent killer, which simply means that every single day, more than 26,000 deaths are happening across the world due to cancer alone. WHO has clarified in its report that cancer not only breaks the body of the victim, but it also pushes the entire family into the quagmire of severe mental trauma, social isolation and extreme financial crisis. Due to huge medical expenses, lakhs of middle class families go below the poverty line every year. Life inequality between poor and rich countries: The survival rate in low-income countries is less than half. This global report has exposed the bitter truth of the healthcare system, where there is a huge gap in the right to life of the patients of rich and poor countries. While in high-income developed countries, about 87% of women suffering from breast cancer survive for at least five years or more thanks to modern treatment, in low-income developing and poor countries this survival rate drops to just 42%. The most worrying thing is that currently there is not even one in three countries across the world that provides complete cancer care and free medicines to its citizens under Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The biggest devastation in Asia and lung cancer becoming the number one killer: Know what the figures say. If seen from a geographical point of view, the largest and most frightening burden of cancer in the entire world has fallen on the continent of Asia. Asian countries alone account for more than half (over 50%) of the total cancer cases and deaths worldwide. In contrast, Europe accounts for only 9% of the world’s total population, but accounts for almost one-fifth (20%) of total cancer cases and deaths globally. If we talk about types of cancer, ‘Lung Cancer’ is proving to be the most deadly across the world. The highest number of cases of lung, prostate and colorectal cancer are being seen in men, while the share of breast, lung and colorectal cancer is increasing the fastest in women. It is possible to prevent 40% of cancer cases: There is a strong need to improve lifestyle amid decline in tobacco. While on one hand the report shows a dire picture of the future, on the other hand it also awakens a ray of hope. WHO experts estimate that about 40% of the total cancer cases worldwide can be completely prevented just by being aware and controlling the risk factors. These include excessive tobacco use, alcohol drinking, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits and some serious infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C. It is a matter of relief that due to strong public health policies, tobacco use has reduced by 27% worldwide since 2010, but access to essential life-saving cancer medicines is still very limited in low and middle income countries, for which governments will have to immediately increase investment in health budgets.
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