Menace Of Cancer: South East Asia To See 85% Surge In Cases and Deaths By 2050
Across countries, people are observing World Cancer Day with fear and caution today, February 4, a day after World Health Organization (WHO) made a shocking revelation about the high prevalence of cancer cases in the South-East Asia region. People in the region, including India are now more concerned about one of the most feared deadly diseases approaching them.
According to the WHO, the region reported 2.4 million new cases of cancer and 1.5 million deaths in 2022 alone. It also predicted an 85 percent increase in the number of new cancer cases and deaths by 2050.
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The WHO’s regional director, Saima Wazed, noted that the victims’ magnitude is not limited to the elderly populations, as age is often regarded as a factor contributing to the cancer, but the younger ones are also becoming increasingly vulnerable to the life-threatening menace. The organization pointed out that among the 2.4 million, 56,000 are children. Among the regions covered by WHO, the South-East Asia Region has recorded the highest number of lip and oral cavity cancers, uterine cervix, and childhood cancers, as per the report.
Reasons For The Surge in Cancer Cases
There are numerous reasons for the rise in the cancer cases, and understanding them is crucial to the adoption of the adage that prevention is better than cure, since it is hard to get rid of the menace once diagnosed. The world is yet to find a cure for cancer, which is claiming millions of lives across the world each year.
The lifestyle change is the major contributor to the cancer; the poor diet, like the consumption of processed food, sedentary life and lack of physical activities, obesity, having type 2 diabetes, lack of proper sleep, drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, and frequent non-vegetarian diets, and chemical pollution are some of the leading causes of cancer. The lifestyle change, which combines most of the above-mentioned factors, makes it increasingly easier to fall prey to the deadly disease.
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Early Detection A Key Preventive Measure
The silent killer, some of the cancer is known to have developed without showing any signs or symptoms, suddenly making the patient fall into depression, exacerbating the disease. In most of the cases, the patient diagnoses the deadly disease only after reaching the advanced stage, with the survival rate in the lowest. Some of the cancers are known to be later detectors, including the dangerous liver and lung cancer.
According to the experts, the biggest challenges with these cancers are the lack of symptoms making their progress silent and eventually turning deadly. It is crucial to detect such menaces at the earliest, hence increasing the survival rate.
According to the WHO regional director, though the nations have progressed tremendously in cancer research, more joint intergovernmental efforts are needed. The collaboration would make the Southeast Asia region, which has been significantly affected by the disease, better equipped to cope with the situation.
Saima observed that the existing cancer prevention policies and programs are not fully implemented, leading to millions of avoidable cases, citing examples of low screening rates for cervical cancer. “Late diagnosis, when treatment is generally less effective and costlier, is common. National capacities remain inadequate to manage the increasing cancer burden,” Saima said, adding that not all countries in the region have functioning population-based cancer registries or national surveillance systems that include cancer indicators for routine reporting.
Stating that the WHO will continue to work with countries in their efforts to reduce the care gap in collaboration with other UN agencies and development partners, Saima stated that the health body worked with member states and partners in co-creating the WHO South-East Asia Regional Strategy for Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Management 2024-2030. The director further noted that the partnerships will be strengthened with communities, civil societies, the private sector, and other stakeholders, highlighting that it is only through joint efforts led by governments, supported by WHO and partners, and through collaboration that we will be better equipped to tackle the rising cancer cases.
