Healthcare systems across the globe face being overwhelmed by a “silent pandemic” of cancer cases by 2050, a major report has warned. It found that patients could face longer waits to be diagnosed as countries struggle to cope with rising cases. Experts predicted that workforce shortages would leave hospitals struggling to cope, resulting in a shortfall of 100 million cancer workers.
The Lancet Oncology Commission’s report said: “The largest gaps will be seen in nursing (about 65 million) and diagnostic staff (about 16 million), threatening to overwhelm health systems as the global cancer burden continues to rise. Cancer is considered a silent pandemic, with 35.3 million cases and 18.5 million deaths projected to occur annually worldwide by 2050.”
The research, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Chicago, predicts a 21% rise in cancer incidence over the next 25 years.
This could see the number of people diagnosed with cancer each year globally rise from 20 million to 35.3 million.
Report co-author Mark Lawler, professor of digital health at Queen’s University Belfast, said: “These findings are sobering.
“Make no mistake; this is a wake-up call, no matter where you are in the world. What we’ve uncovered is shocking. We can’t wait until 2050 to see if our projections are correct — we must act now.”
The report estimated that one in three cancers goes undiagnosed worldwide, rising to more than 60% in parts of Africa.
The researchers called for urgent action including national cancer control plans that tackle workforce shortages and investment in technology.
Commenting on the findings, Matt Sample, senior health policy manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “An ageing and growing population means cancer cases are on the rise.
“Here in the UK, health services are already struggling to keep up with demand. If the UK is serious about achieving world leading cancer outcomes, a step change in how we plan and invest in our cancer services is needed.
“That means growing and supporting the workforce, expanding diagnostic capacity, and building a system that can meet future demands.
“The UK Government’s upcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan needs to provide investment for additional specialist staff, otherwise people affected by cancer will continue to be let down.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
