The UK has been warned to prepare for an explosion in cancer deaths, with loss figures from the disease set to soar by more than 50 per cent over the next two decades.
A growing and aging population, combined with unhealthy lifestyles, is said to be fueling the problem, say experts behind a damning new global report.
New figures reveal that despite record spending of £192 billion on the NHS this year, the UK has one of the worst cancer death rates globally, ranking 123rd out of 185 countries.
Both the United States and Australia fared much better, ranking 68th and 82nd respectively in terms of death rate.
Concerned scientists today urged governments to “control the global burden of cancer” by tackling risk factors such as obesity and smoking.
They also urged policymakers to expand screening programs that help detect cancer early and increase the chances of survival.
Australian researchers said that over the next 25 years, cancer deaths in the UK will rise from 181,807 a year to 279,004 in 2050, an increase of 53.5 per cent.
Although cancer outcomes are currently better than the UK, the US is projected to see an even greater increase, from 605,761 deaths a year to 974,831 in 2050, an increase of 60.9 per cent.
Britons have one of the worst cancer death rates globally, surpassing the US and Australia, but are faring better than the French, Portuguese and Kiwis, research showed.
Sierra Leone had the lowest death rate overall and Mongolia the highest.
Globally, cancer deaths are also projected to increase by almost 90 percent, from 9.7 million in 2022 to 18.5 million in 2050.
And the number of cases worldwide is expected to increase by almost 77 percent, meaning 15.3 million additional cancer diagnoses in 2050.
Lung cancer is expected to remain the leading cause of cancer deaths, accounting for one in five lives lost to the disease.
writing in the diary Open JAMA NetworkThe researchers said: “Cancer prevention and health promotion strategies play a vital role in mitigating the global burden of cancer.”
This includes addressing “modifiable risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, obesity and ultraviolet radiation, as well as promoting healthy and balanced dietary choices, physical activity and vaccination,” they added.
“Expanding community screening programs will be important for prevention, early detection, and reduction of cancer-related morbidity and mortality.”
More than 320,000 people in England (or 900 a day) are diagnosed with cancer each year, with the most common types being prostate, breast, bowel and lung.
Cancer care effectively stopped for some patients in 2020, when the pandemic first hit UK shores, with appointments canceled and diagnostic scans delayed due to the government’s devotion to protecting the NHS.
Experts have estimated that 40,000 cancers went undiagnosed during the first year of the pandemic alone.
NHS cancer services also repeatedly fail to meet their targets.
Figures released earlier this month showed NHS England met one of its three cancer diagnosis targets.
Of the 259,432 urgent cancer referrals made by GPs in August, 75.5 per cent were diagnosed or ruled out the disease within 28 days.
The goal is 75 percent. Just over two-thirds (69.2 percent) of patients started their first cancer treatment within two months of an urgent referral.
NHS guidelines state that 85 per cent of cancer patients should be treated within this timeframe.