That’s the headline that comes from a new report from the UN’s health agency that highlights stark disparities in cancer survival between high- and low-income countries.
Ten million deaths a year
The Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, produced with the International Agency for Research on Cancer – IARC, a specialized WHO agency – outlines that cancer already causes more than 26,000 deaths every daywith an estimated 20.6 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths annually, making it the world’s second most frequent cause of death after cardiovascular disease.
The report warns that while progress has been made in tobacco control, vaccination and cancer prevention, millions of people continue to face huge inequalities in access to life-saving care.
“Cancer is a deeply personal disease that affects almost all of us. But whether a person survives cancer should never depend on where they were born or what they earn,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that “the inequalities documented in this report are not inevitable; they are the consequence of strong choices and through them can be reversed.”
Strong inequalities
According to the report, survival rates differ greatly between rich and poor countries. While 87 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least five years in high-income countries, the figure drops to around 42 per cent. in low-income countries.
Fewer than one in three countries currently include cancer treatment in their universal health coverage packages, leaving many patients without access to essential diagnosis, treatment or supportive care.
The WHO also highlighted the heavy social and economic burden of the disease. Its first global survey of people affected by cancer found that:
- at least 45 percent experience financial difficulties
- more than half report psychological challenges
- almost all carers face significant pressures, including unpaid care responsibilities and social isolation.
Continental variations
In 2024, Asia accounted for more than half of all cancer cases and deaths, reflecting its large population.
Europewith only about nine percent of the global population, it recorded 21 percent of cancer cases and 20 percent of deaths, giving it a disproportionately high burden.
Meanwhile, many countries have i Africa and parts of Asia continue to experience lower incidence rates, but markedly higher mortality.
Lung cancer most deadly
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Among men, lung, prostate and colon cancers are the most commonwhile breast, lung and colon cancer make up a large proportion of cases among women.
By 2024, there were an estimated 2.4 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 694,000 deaths globally. Breast cancer occurs in all countries of the world in women of all ages after puberty, but with increasing frequency later in life.
Prevention remains key
The WHO estimates that nearly four out of 10 cancers are linked to preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol use, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B and C.
A health worker vaccinates a girl with the HPV vaccine in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of Africa’s largest vaccination campaign.
The agency emphasized the need for preventive action that keeps pace with emerging risks.
“Although we are seeing reductions in some cancer rates in countries that have implemented prevention policies, progress has been too slow,” said Dr. Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC.
“The cancer profile is evolving, increasingly driven by rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and air pollution. Cancer prevention must remain a political priority.”
Progress and persistent gaps
The report points to several important achievements over the past decade, including a decline in global tobacco consumption, vaccination programs and stronger political commitment.
82 percent of countries now report national cancer control plans, compared to 50 percent in 2010. Scientific research has also accelerated, but access to essential medicines remains deeply unequal.
Availability of the 20 priority cancer drugs ranges from only 9 to 54 percent in low- and lower-middle-income countries, compared with 68 to 94 percent in high-income countries.
Put people first
The WHO said cancer control must go beyond medical treatment alone by placing people living with the disease and their families at the center of health systems.
“Cancer is not just a medical diagnosis – it profoundly and endlessly affects every aspect of a person’s life, including their family’s,” said Clarissa Schilstra, a childhood cancer survivor who co-led the WHO global study.
She called on politicians to work more closely with people who have experienced cancer to design more equitable and effective health policies.
