Infectious disease outbreaks or antimicrobial resistance are often described as global health crises. However, there is a crisis that has been growing in power for decades but quietly; cancer is increasing worldwide, and the largest increases are now in countries with fewer resources.
In a research paper by Dr. Vikram Nirangan from the University of Limerick, Ireland, the researcher, who has worked on international research studies on the global burden of cancer, believes that millions of people will live and die with preventable cancers in the coming decades unless something changes.
According to "The Independent", the outlook for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa was particularly harsh.
Nirangan says: "In our study, 41.7% of cancer deaths in 2023 were attributed to modifiable risks."
The 6 Factors
He continues: "Factors such as tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diets, being overweight, air pollution, and harmful exposure in the workplace or environment contributed to this."
The international study was based on analyzing 18.5 million new cancer cases and 10.4 million deaths in 204 countries.
Nearly one out of every 6 global deaths is attributed to cancer.
Cancer Among the Young
The research paper draws attention to the fact that cancer is no longer a condition mainly affecting the elderly. In many regions, young people are increasingly being diagnosed with cancers historically noted in older age stages.
Addressing this crisis requires more than just isolated initiatives. Through investing in early diagnosis, governments can proactively offer screenings for types of cancer like breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, which saves lives, but still rare in most parts of the world.
In other words, prevention must be considered a global priority.
Preventive Measures
Combating tobacco, regulating air quality, preventing obesity, and workplace protection are all well-evidence matters, and are desperately needed to be bolstered.
Health systems also require a substantial expansion, starting from pathology laboratories and trained oncology staff, to reliable access to affordable treatments.
