Breast cancer overtakes that of lung as most common cancer: WHO

GENEVA - Breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most common form of the disease, accounting for nearly 12 per cent of new cases each year worldwide, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday (Feb 2).

"For the first time, breast cancer now constitutes the most commonly occurring cancer globally," Dr Andre Ilbawi, a cancer specialist at the WHO, told a UN briefing ahead of World Cancer Day on Thursday (Jan 28).

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, Dr Ilbawi said. An estimated 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed last year, representing 11.7 per cent of all cancer cases, the WHO said in a statement.

"Among women, breast cancer is the most commonly-diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide," it said. Dr 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, he said.

The WHO, warning against risk factors, said that around one third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, and alcohol use.

The coronavirus pandemic is disrupting cancer treatment in about half the countries it surveyed, Dr Ilbawi said, pointing to delays in diagnosis, healthcare workers being under extreme stress and research being impacted.