Despite significant advancements in screening and treatment, breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death and disease burden among women worldwide.
According to a new study published in The Lancet Oncology, global breast cancer deaths are projected to rise by 44 per cent, reaching nearly 1.4 million by 2050, up from 764,000 in 2023. New cases are also expected to increase by about one-third, growing from 2.3 million to more than 3.5 million during the same period.
An analysis of data from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023 found that 28 per cent of the global breast cancer burden in 2023 was linked to six modifiable risk factors. The largest contributor was red meat consumption, followed by smoking, high blood sugar, high body mass index, alcohol use, and physical inactivity.
The disease burden is increasingly shifting towards low- and lower-middle-income countries, where access to screening, timely diagnosis and comprehensive care remains limited. Women in these countries account for 27 per cent of new cases and more than 45 per cent of the global burden of ill health and premature deaths from breast cancer.
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Breast cancer has risen sharply in India over the past three decades. Between 1990 and 2023, incidence increased by 126.9 per cent, while deaths climbed by 74 per cent, reflecting a substantial and growing public health burden.
Although women aged 55 and older account for roughly three times as many new breast cancer cases as those aged 20 to 54, incidence among younger women has risen by 29 per cent, signalling a concerning upward trend in this age group.
"With more than a quarter of the global breast cancer burden linked to six modifiable lifestyle changes, there are tremendous opportunities to alter the trajectory of breast cancer risk for the next generation," said the study’s co-senior author. "Targeting known risk factors through public health policies and making healthier choices more accessible, while working with individuals to take action to reduce obesity and high blood sugar, are crucial to halting the rise in breast cancers worldwide."
