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 "For the first time, breast cancer now constitutes the most commonly
occurring cancer globally," Andre Ilbawi, a cancer specialist at the
WHO, told a U.N. briefing ahead of World Cancer Day on Thursday.
Lung cancer was the most common type for the last two decades, but
is now in second place, ahead of colorectal cancer, which is the
third most widespread, Ilbawi said.
Ilbawi noted that obesity in women was a common risk factor in
breast cancer, and is also driving overall cancer numbers.
As the global population grows and life expectancy increases, cancer
is expected to become more common, rising to about 30 million new
cases per year in 2040 from 19.3 million in 2020, Ilbawi said.
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The coronavirus pandemic is disrupting cancer
treatment in about half the countries it
surveyed, Ilbawi said, pointing to delays in
diagnosis, healthcare workers being under
extreme stress and research being impacted.
(Reporting by Emma Thomasson and Stephanie
Nebehay; editing by Alexandra Hudson)
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