Global Cancer Cases Rise to 20.6 Million in 2024

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released the GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates, indicating that there are approximately 20.6 million new cancer cases and 9.8 million cancer deaths worldwide in 2024. The report highlights that one in five people is expected to develop cancer during their lifetime.

Without significant advancements in prevention and treatment, the number of new cases could escalate to 34 million annually by 2050, with cancer deaths potentially rising to 17.5 million. Freddie Bray, Head of the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC, emphasized the urgent need for action, noting that one in nine men and one in 13 women die from cancer.

The report also reveals geographical disparities, with China accounting for about one in four cancer cases and deaths. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality globally, while breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women.