Director of the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR), Mark Lodge provides a stark update on the number of cases of cancer in the Commonwealth, which is above global averages and growing, and the urgent implications for policy makers.
“In 2018, nearly 1.7 million people died from cancer in the Commonwealth – the equivalent to one death every 18 seconds.”
Between 2008 and 2018 the number of new cases of cancer reported in the Commonwealth rose by 35 per cent. There is now a new case of cancer somewhere in the Commonwealth every ten seconds and more than seven million Commonwealth citizens are living with cancer. In 2018, nearly 1.7 million people died from cancer in the Commonwealth – the equivalent to one death every 18 seconds.
Based on expected population growth, Globocan predicts increases in Commonwealth cancer incidence by 35 per cent in the 12 years between 2018 and 2030, and in cancer mortality by 39 per cent. These figures are both higher than the projected world estimates of 33.4 per cent and 36.3 per cent, respectively.
The increased incidence will be unequally distributed across the Commonwealth (see Figure 1), and the acceleration in cancer mortality rate will be rapid: from 167 deaths per hour (dph) in 2008, to 193 dph in 2018, and rising to 268 dph by 2030…
Mark Lodge
Director, International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research, UK
