THE GUARDIAN: The disease will touch 92% of people globally, finds annual review, while ‘persistent’ inequities found to exist in access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care
Remarkable scientific progress against cancer has changed very little for millions of patients globally, who face devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences after diagnosis, a new World Health Organization report has warned.
One person in five will develop cancer, according to WHO estimates, and the disease will touch 92% of people, either through their own diagnosis or that of a close family member.
Dr Andre Ilbawi, team lead for cancer control at the WHO, said: “For years, the story told about cancer has been about scientific progress, new technologies, new treatment, new hope. That story is true, and it deserves to be told, but it’s not the whole story.”
This year’s WHO global status report on cancer found “persistent and widening” inequities in access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.
There are an estimated 20.6m cases, and 10m deaths, from cancer every year. Figures are projected to rise to nearly 35m cases by 2050. » | Kat Lay, Global health correspondent | Wednesday, July 8, 2026
The unrelenting war on smoking and smokers has worked wonders, hasn’t it? And all that nonsense about “second-hand smoke”, too! Unfortunately, and tragically, more cancer appears to be being diagnosed now than ever.
I would suggest that the causes of this dire situation lies in the crappy foods people eat, the uncertainties that these poor people have to live with and through, not knowing where their next crust is going to come from, and all the dreadful working conditions these downtrodden people have to suffer through. Even in this country, young people have to endure those dreadful zero-hour contracts which young people are forced to accept in order to enrich their bosses and companies at their expense. This is the cost of capitalism unchained. All stemming, of course, from that dreadful jungle across the Pond.
When I was growing up, men were given stable employment contracts, entitling them to holidays and a plethora of other perks. Men could afford to keep their wives at home, so that they could bring up and nourish their children well, and dress them appropriately, teaching them manners and social skills.
In those days most men smoked, and often times, so did mothers. Children were not particularly protected from cigarette, pipe, or cigar smoke. Yet I can think of no child that I went to school with who suffered from cancer prematurely.
Modern life has brought with it many advantages. Alas good health is not one of them. It is high time that the record be changed: we need to look elsewhere for the causes of this tragedy, and changes need to be made to people’s lifestyles. I would suggest that a good start would be a better distribution of wealth. At least then, these people will be able to afford some decent, healthful, quality food. Good health starts in the stomach. — © Mark Alexander
