Cancer cases and deaths in men, especially those aged 65 and over, are projected to increase by 93% by 2050.
The study, published in the journal Cancer on August 12, analyzed cases and deaths from 30 types of cancer in 185 countries and territories in 2022 to make predictions for 2050.
Scientists estimate that the total number of cancer cases in men will increase from 10.3 million in 2022 to 19 million in 2050, an increase of 84%. The number of cancer deaths will increase from 5.4 million to 10.5 million over the same period, an increase of 93%. The death rate in men aged 65 and older will increase by 117%.
Countries with low incomes and low life expectancies are more likely to be affected. Between 2022 and 2050, cancer incidence and mortality rates will increase 2.5-fold in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, and about 1.5-fold in Europe, the study found.
Previous studies have repeatedly shown that men are more likely to get cancer than women due to unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking. They are also often exposed to harmful substances at work and are less likely to participate in cancer screening programs.
Cancer rates in men could spike by 2050. Photo: CNN
As in 2022, lung cancer will remain the leading cause of death in men in 2050. Other cancers with sharp increases are carcinoma and prostate.
To improve current cancer rates, officials need to invest in infrastructure and improve access to care and screening services, the researchers said. They suggested countries expand health insurance coverage to “enhance basic cancer care options.”
The American Cancer Society reports that aging and aging are major drivers of the global cancer burden. The current global population of 8 billion is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.
“We expect the number of people with cancer to increase to 35 million by 2050, largely due to an aging population, increased smoking, and higher rates of obesity. The disease will hit low-income countries disproportionately,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer of the American Cancer Society.