Bladder cancer is predicted to become more common and more deadly by 2050.
A new study predicts a global surge in cancer diagnoses and deaths among men by 2050. In a study published in the peer-reviewed journal American Cancer Society, researchers projected an 84% increase in cancer diagnoses and a 93% increase in cancer deaths among men worldwide between 2022 and 2050. Those numbers are expected to grow from 5.4 million in 2022 to 10.5 million in 2050.
To estimate cancer incidence and mortality rates in men, the researchers looked at population data from 185 countries and territories and 30 cancer subtypes. According to the study authors, men tend to smoke and drink more than women, putting them at higher risk of cancer and cancer death. Additionally, men are less likely to receive cancer screening and are more likely to be exposed to carcinogens in the workplace.
The study authors said that men over 65 years of age have a lower survival rate than younger men because they are less tolerant to treatment and are diagnosed at a later stage of the disease. In addition, some of them are less able to afford medical care. During the same period, the number of cancer deaths in older men is expected to increase from 3.4 million to 7.7 million, and the number of cancer patients is expected to soar from 6 million in 2022 to 13.1 million by 2050.
The researchers also found that cancer outcomes differ depending on the economic situation of each country: “Between 2022 and 2050, a 2.5-fold increase in incidence and mortality is projected in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. In contrast, an increase of roughly half is expected in Europe,” the researchers wrote.
Lung cancer is projected to be the leading cause of cancer cases and deaths worldwide by 2050, with a projected increase of more than 87% between 2022 and 2050, followed by prostate cancer and colorectal cancer.
Bladder cancer is predicted to become more common and deadly by 2050, while the number of deaths from skin cancer may also increase.
According to the researchers, better health infrastructure and access, including sufficient personnel, is needed to improve existing cancer outcomes and prepare for the projected increase by 2050. They also noted that low-income countries have lower universal health coverage and are disproportionately affected by poor cancer outcomes. The researchers concluded that expanding universal health coverage globally would enhance “basic cancer treatment options.”
