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The World Health Organization's cancer control agency warned Thursday that the number of new cancer cases will rise to more than 35 million cases in 2050, an increase of 77 percent compared to the number recorded in 2022.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, affiliated with the World Health Organization, stated that tobacco, alcohol, obesity and air pollution are major factors in this expected rise.

The agency said - in a statement - that “it is expected that more than 35 million new cases of cancer will be recorded in 2050,” that is, an increase of 77% from the number diagnosed in 2022, which amounts to about 20 million cases.

"The rapidly increasing global cancer burden reflects population aging and growth, as well as changes in people's exposure to risk factors, many of which are linked to social and economic development," the agency added.

The statement pointed out that "tobacco, alcohol and obesity are the main factors behind the increase in cancer cases, and air pollution remains a major driver of environmental risk factors."

The biggest increases

The World Health Organization said that the most developed countries are expected to record the largest increases in the number of cases, with 4.8 million additional new infections expected in 2050 compared to 2022 estimates.

But in terms of percentages, the countries that rank lowest on the Human Development Index (HDI), used by the United Nations, will see the largest increase (142%).

Countries with an average Human Development Index are expected to register an increase of 99%.

"Similarly, cancer deaths in these countries are expected to almost double in 2050," the WHO added.

"The impact of this increase will not be felt equally across countries with different levels of the Human Development Index," said Freddie Bray, head of the Cancer Surveillance Branch at the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

He noted that countries “that have the least resources to manage their cancer burdens will bear the brunt of the global cancer burden.”

Source: French