The UK has been warned to brace for an explosion in cancer deaths, with numbers lost to the disease set to soar by more than 50 per cent over the next two decades.
A rising and ageing population — combined with unhealthy lifestyles — are said to be fuelling the problem, experts behind a damning new global report claim.
The new figures reveal that, despite a record £192billion spent on the NHS this year, the UK has one of the worst cancer mortality rates globally, coming 123rd out of 185 nations.
Both the US and Australia fared far better, in 68th and 82nd place respectively in terms of mortality rate.
Concerned scientists today urged governments to ‘get a grip on the global cancer burden’ by tackling risk factors such as obesity and smoking.
They also urged policymakers to expand screening programmes that help catch cancer early, and boost survival odds.
The Australian researchers said over the next 25 years, UK cancer deaths will rise from 181,807 annually to 279,004 in 2050 — an increase of 53.5 per cent.
Despite currently seeing better cancer outcomes than the UK, America is predicted to see an even greater rise, from 605,761 deaths a year to 974,831 in 2050 — a 60.9 per cent surge.
Brits have one of the worst cancer mortality rates globally — surpassing the US and Australia — but fare better than the French, Portuguese and Kiwis, the research showed
Sierra Leone logged the lowest mortality rate overall and Mongolia the highest.
Globally, cancer deaths are also projected to rise by almost 90 per cent from 9.7million in 2022 to 18.5million by 2050.
And numbers of cases worldwide are expected to increase by nearly 77 per cent, meaning an additional 15.3 million cancer diagnoses in 2050.
Lung cancer is projected to remain the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for one in five lives lost to the disease.
Writing in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers said: ‘Cancer prevention and health promotion strategies play a vital role in mitigating the global cancer burden.’
This includes addressing ‘modifiable risk factors including smoking and alcohol use, obesity, UV radiation, alongside promoting healthy and balanced dietary choices, physical activity and vaccination’, they added.
‘Expansion of community-based screening programs will be important for prevention, early detection, and reduction of cancer-related morbidity and mortality.’
More than 320,000 people in England — or 900 a day — are diagnosed with cancer each year, with prostate, breast, bowel and lung the most common types.
Cancer care effectively ground to a halt for some patients in 2020 when the pandemic first reached the UK’s shores, with appointments cancelled and diagnostic scans delayed because of the Government’s devotion to protecting the NHS.
Experts have estimated 40,000 cancers went undiagnosed during the first year of pandemic alone.
NHS cancer services also repeatedly fail to achieve their targets.
Figures released earlier this month showed NHS England met one of its three cancer diagnosis targets.
Of the 259,432 urgent cancer referrals made by GPs in August, 75.5 per cent were diagnosed or had the disease ruled out within 28 days.
The target is 75 per cent. Just over two-thirds (69.2 per cent) of patients started their first cancer treatment within two months of an urgent referral.
NHS guidelines state 85 per cent of cancer patients should be treated within this timeframe.
