DSÖ Warning: Global Cancer Epidemic and Rising Inequalities

Dünya Sağlık Örgütü (DSÖ) and Uluslararası Kanser Araştırmaları Ajansı (IARC) shared a shocking new report on the global cancer situation with the public. This report provides the most comprehensive assessment to date on cancer prevention and control worldwide. According to research, more than 90 percent of the world's population will be directly or indirectly affected by cancer through a relative at least once in their lifetime. Additionally, one in five people is expected to develop some type of cancer during their lifetime. These data clearly reveal that cancer has become a common and urgent problem for all humanity, not just a single region.

Causing 26,000 deaths worldwide every day, cancer stands out as the second deadliest health issue after cardiovascular diseases. Currently, 20.6 million new cancer cases are detected annually, and this number shows an increasing trend each year. Despite advances in medical treatments and preventive health services, it is anticipated that more people will suffer from and lose their lives to this disease in the coming years. Experts warn that the situation could worsen due to the aging global population and the diversification of risk factors. DSÖ data estimates that cancer-related deaths could reach 35 million annually by 2050.

One of the most striking parts of the report highlights the massive economic inequalities in cancer survival rates. Officials emphasize that a patient's chance of survival depends more on the country they live in and that country's economic status than on the type of cancer. For example, while more than 85 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in high-income countries survive for five years following diagnosis, this rate drops below 30 percent in low-income countries. While access to essential oncology medicines remains highly limited in low- and middle-income countries, wealthy countries have much easier access to these drugs. This situation reveals how injustices in global health systems directly determine human lives.

When evaluated by gender, lung cancer stands out as the most common type of cancer with the highest mortality rate in both genders. While lung cancer in men is followed by prostate and colon cancers, the most common types in women are breast, lung, and colon cancers. The report states that public health policies aimed at reducing tobacco consumption have yielded successful results, achieving a 27 percent decrease in tobacco use since 2010. Additionally, a downward trend in infection-related cancers is observed thanks to expanding vaccination programs and improvements in water and hygiene conditions. However, DSÖ states that despite nearly 40 percent of cases stemming from preventable risk factors, not enough lives are being saved.

The social and psychological difficulties experienced by patients and caregivers also hold a significant place in the report. According to the first survey conducted by DSÖ among cancer patients, at least 45 percent of patients reported experiencing severe economic difficulties, while even more stated they struggle with mental health issues. Furthermore, a large portion of caregivers mention bearing heavy burdens such as unpaid workload and social isolation. Based on these comprehensive data, DSÖ recommends making the fight against cancer a political priority, increasing investments in treatment services, and sustaining immunization programs and tobacco control. Experts argue that the solution to the global cancer crisis is possible not only through medical initiatives but also through comprehensive social policies.