From 10.3 to 19 million cases by 2050: why are men more affected by cancer than women ?

Les cas de cancers chez les hommes pourraient doubler d’ici 2050.

A new study published in the American Cancer Society's journal Cancer reveals alarming projections for cancer in men. Between 2022 and 2050, cancer cases are expected to increase from 10.3 million to 19 million, an increase of 84%.

2022 data from the Global Cancer Observatory show that men are more affected by cancer than women. Several factors explain this trend, including lower participation in prevention efforts, underuse of screening, and increased exposure to risk factors such as smoking and alcohol. Even if, for this last fact, the gap tends to reduce.

And the projections are not reassuring. Cancer cases in men are expected to rise from 10.3 million to 19 million, an increase of 84%. More worryingly, deaths could rise from 5.4 million to 10.5 million, a 93% increase.

Older people and poor countries

The study highlights that men aged over 65, as well as those living in countries with low or medium human development indexes, will be hardest hit.

Given these worrying prospects, Dr Habtamu Mellie Bizuayehu, lead author of the study and a researcher at the University of Queensland in Australia, calls for urgent action. “National and international collaboration, as well as a coordinated multi-sectoral approach, are essential to improve current cancer outcomes and reverse the projected increase in cancer burden by 2050“, he insists.

Among the solutions proposed, Dr Bizuayehu highlights the importance of universal health coverage and the expansion of health infrastructure, mainly in countries with low human development indexes where the need for cancer services is not met.