That’s the headline emerging from a new report from the UN health agency that highlights stark inequalities in cancer survival between high- and low-income countries.
Ten million deaths a year
The World Cancer Status Report 2026, prepared in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, specialized agency of the WHO) It highlights that cancer already causes more than 26,000 deaths every daywith approximately 20.6 million new cases and almost 10 million deaths per year, making it the first in the world. Second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases..
The report warns that while progress has been made in tobacco control, vaccination and cancer prevention, millions of people continue to face significant inequalities in access to life-saving care.
“Cancer is a deeply personal disease that affects almost all of us. But a person’s survival from cancer should never depend on where they were born or what they earn,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that “the inequalities documented in this report are not inevitable; they are a consequence of choices and can be reversed through stronger, more unified action.”
Great inequalities
According to the report, survival rates differ markedly between rich and poor countries. While 87 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive at least five years in high-income countries, the figure drops to around 42 percent in low-income countries.
Currently, fewer than one in three countries include cancer care in their universal health coverage packages, leaving many patients without access to essential diagnoses, 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 experience financial difficulties
- more than half report mental health problems
- Almost all carers face significant pressures, including unpaid caring responsibilities and social isolation.
Continental variations
In 2024, Asia It 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, it accounted for 21 percent of cancer cases and 20 percent of deaths, a disproportionately high burden.
Meanwhile, many countries in 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 death worldwide. Among men, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are the most commonwhile breast, lung and colorectal cancers represent a large proportion of cases among women.
It is estimated that in 2024, 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 of any age after puberty, but with increasing rates in old age.
Prevention remains key
The WHO estimates that almost four in 10 cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol use, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B and C.
A health worker vaccinates a girl against HPV in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of Africa’s largest vaccination campaign.
The agency stressed the need for prevention efforts that keep pace with emerging risks.
“While we are seeing reductions in some cancer rates in countries that have implemented prevention policies, progress has been too slow,” said Dr. Elisabete Weiderpass, director of IARC.
“The cancer profile is evolving, increasingly driven by rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and air pollution. Cancer prevention must remain a policy priority.”
Progress and persistent gaps
The report notes several important achievements over the past decade, including declines in global tobacco consumption, vaccination programs and stronger political commitment.
82 percent of countries now report national cancer control plans, up from 50 percent in 2010. Scientific research has also accelerated, yet 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 cancer control must go beyond simple medical treatment and place 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 that of their family,” said Clarissa Schilstra, a childhood cancer survivor who helped lead the WHO global survey.
He urged policymakers to work more closely with people who have lived the experience of cancer to design more equitable and effective health policies.
