Authors
Benny PV, Chief Editor, IMA Kerala Medical Journal; Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Sree Gokulam Medical College, Kerala, India.
Abstract
Background: Cancer remains a major global health challenge, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Projections indicate a substantial increase in cancer cases and deaths over the next 20–40 years, predominantly in low- and medium-resource countries, driven by population growth and aging.
Trends: While developed nations show declining rates for several common cancers, incidence and mortality are rising in developing and economically transitioning countries. This disparity is attributed to shifting environmental risk factors, including unhealthy lifestyle changes (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, diet, lack of exercise, industrial exposures) and the burden of infection-related cancers (cervix, liver, stomach). Migrant studies underscore the role of environmental factors over genetics.
Challenges: The developing world faces compounded challenges, including increasing smoking prevalence, rising obesity, and slower declines in chronic infection-related cancers. Poor access to epidemiological data, treatment, research, and cancer control programs contributes to significantly poorer survival rates in these regions.
Solutions: Addressing the global cancer burden requires multi-faceted approaches. Key strategies include raising public awareness, improving education and training, enhancing cancer surveillance, promoting early detection, and emphasizing prevention. Improved healthcare financing, international collaborations, and robust national cancer control programs – focusing on risk factor reduction, cost-effective prevention (e.g., cervical cancer), palliative care, and establishing cancer registries – are essential to mitigate this growing crisis.