Global cancer cases and mortality among men predicted to surge by 2050, new study warns

New research published in the journal “Cancer” predicts a significant global increase in cancer cases and deaths among men by 2050, with cases expected to rise by 84% and deaths by 93%.

The study highlights that the increases will be most pronounced among men aged 65 and older, particularly in countries with low or medium Human Development Index (HDI) scores, which measure health, knowledge, and living standards.

Lead author Habtamu Mellie Bizuayehu from the University of Queensland emphasized the need for national and international collaboration to improve cancer outcomes and reverse the projected rise in the cancer burden, recommending expanding universal health coverage, improving health infrastructure, and increasing support for medical education to enhance cancer care and equity.

The study analyzed data from over 30 cancer types across 185 countries using the Global Cancer Observatory. This follows a February report from the World Health Organization (WHO), which projected over 35 million new cancer cases by 2050, a 77% increase from 2022.

Key factors driving this surge include population aging, environmental risk factors such as air pollution, and lifestyle factors like tobacco. The latest study also pointed out that men’s higher cancer rates could be attributed to lower participation in prevention activities, underuse of screening and treatments, and modifiable risk factors like smoking.