A new report from the World Health Organization warns that the number of people diagnosed with cancer each year is expected to surge over the next quarter-century.
The report projects annual cancer diagnoses will climb from about 20 million today to nearly 35 million by 2050.
While some cancers are declining thanks to prevention efforts, experts warn aging populations, rising obesity rates and other risk factors will place unprecedented pressure on health-care systems around the world.
“We need to focus attention on what some people are calling the cancer tsunami,” said Dr. Peter Stotland, chief of surgery and a surgical oncologist at North York General Hospital.
Stotland told Global News the findings mirror what doctors are already seeing in Canada.
“We’re seeing just higher numbers of people coming in with cancer,” he said, pointing to an aging population that is expected to drive increases in lung, prostate and colorectal cancers.
“I think it’s shocking because this is something that we’re seeing on a regional, provincial level and a national level,” he said.
At the same time, doctors are also seeing more young people diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
“We can be seeing two spikes… one in older people and another in younger people with cancer,” he said. “That’s going to put a lot of stress on the health-care system.”
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