That’s the title of a new report from the United Nations health agency that highlights stark inequalities in cancer survival between high- and low-income countries.
Ten million deaths per year
The Global Cancer Situation Report 2026, produced with the International Agency for Research on Cancer – IARC, a specialized agency of the WHO – underlines that cancer already causes more than 26,000 deaths every daywith around 20.6 million new cases and almost 10 million deaths per year, making it the worst-affected country in the world. second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases.
The report warns that although progress has been made in tobacco control, vaccination and cancer prevention, millions of people continue to face serious inequalities in access to life-saving care.
“Cancer is a deeply personal illness that affects almost every one of us. But a person’s survival from cancer should never depend on where they were born or how much they earn,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that “the inequalities documented in this report are not inevitable; they are the consequence of choices, and they can be reversed through stronger, unified action.”
Strong inequalities
According to the report, survival rates differ sharply between rich and poor countries. While 87 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive at least five years in high-income countries, this figure drops to around 42 percent in low-income countries.
Fewer than one in three countries currently include cancer care in their universal health coverage program, leaving many patients without access to essential diagnostics, treatments or supportive care.
The WHO also highlighted the heavy social and economic burden of the disease. Its first global survey of people affected by cancer found that:
- at least 45 percent are experiencing financial difficulties
- more than half report mental health issues
- Almost all caregivers face significant pressures, including unpaid care responsibilities and social isolation.
Continental variations
In 2024, Asia accounted for more than half of all cancer cases and deaths, reflecting its large population.
Europewith only about nine percent of the world’s population, accounted for 21 percent of cancer cases and 20 percent of deaths, giving it a disproportionate burden.
Meanwhile, many countries in the Africa and parts of Asia continue to experience lower incidence rates but significantly higher mortality.
The deadliest lung cancer
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In men, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are the most commonwhile breast, lung and colorectal cancers represent a significant proportion of cases in women.
By 2024, an estimated 2.4 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 694,000 deaths worldwide. Breast cancer occurs in all countries of the world in women at all ages after puberty, but with increasing rates later in life.
Prevention remains essential
The WHO estimates that almost four in ten cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B and C.
A health worker vaccinates a young girl with the HPV vaccine in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of Africa’s largest vaccination campaign.
The agency stressed the need to deploy prevention efforts adapted to emerging risks.
“Although we are seeing a reduction in some cancer rates in countries that have implemented prevention policies, progress has been too slow,” said Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC.
“The profile of cancer is changing, increasingly influenced by increasing rates of obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet and air pollution. Cancer prevention must remain a policy priority.”
Progress and persistent gaps
The report highlights several important achievements over the past decade, including a decline in global tobacco consumption, vaccination programs and stronger political commitment.
82 percent of countries now communicate national cancer plans, up from 50 percent in 2010. Scientific research has also accelerated, but access to essential medicines remains deeply unequal.
Availability of the 20 priority cancer drugs ranges from just 9 to 54 percent in low- and lower-middle-income countries, compared to 68 to 94 percent in high-income countries.
Put people first
The WHO said the fight against cancer must go beyond medical treatment alone by placing people living with the disease and their families at the center of health systems.
“Cancer is not just a medical diagnosis: it profoundly and indefinitely affects every aspect of a person’s life, as well as their family,” said Clarissa Schilstra, a childhood cancer survivor who helped lead the WHO global survey.
She urged policymakers to work more closely with people with lived experience of cancer to design more equitable and effective health policies.
