Global Breast Cancer Cases May Reach 3.5 Million by 2050: The Lancet Oncology Study

A new study has found that breast cancer is a leading cause of death or illness among women worldwide. India has experienced large increases in the incidence of breast cancer: 477% more cases and 352% more deaths from 1990 to 2023.

According to a study published in The Lancet Oncology, by 2050, there may be 3.5 million new cases of breast cancer every year (one third more than 2.3 million in 2023), and 1.3 million deaths annually (44% more).

According to a study led by Kayleigh Bhangdia of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, USA, approximately 203,000 cancer cases were reported in India in 2023, an increase of approximately 477 percent compared to 1990, and over 100,000 deaths, an increase of 352.3 percent.

The effect is not the same in all countries. Poor countries are affected more than rich countries. The study shows that the age-standardized incidence rate increased by 147.2% in low-income countries, but only by 1.2% in high-income countries.

The age-standardized mortality rate decreased by 29.9 percent in high-income countries, while it increased by 99.3 percent in low-income countries. Bhangdia said that breast cancer is having a profound impact on women's lives and communities.

People in high-income countries generally benefit from screening, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment strategies, but the increasing burden of breast cancer now falls on low- and lower-middle-income countries, where people often face late diagnosis, limited access to quality care, and higher mortality rates.