Breast Cancer Expected To Become Leading Cause Of Carcinogenic Deaths By 2040, Lancet Commission Warns

A new Lancet commission has revealed that breast cancer is poised to become the world's most common carcinogenic disease, projecting a staggering one million deaths annually from the ailment by 2040. The report highlights a significant rise in breast cancer cases globally, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the brunt of the burden.

According to the commission's findings, approximately 7.8 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the five years leading up to the end of 2020. Tragically, around 685,000 women succumbed to the disease in the same year.

The Lancet report predicts a substantial increase in breast cancer cases from 2.3 million in 2020 to over 3 million by 2040, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income nations. Moreover, it anticipates that breast cancer-related deaths will reach one million per year by 2040.

The commission underscores the "glaring inequities" faced by breast cancer patients, who often endure symptoms, despair, and financial burdens inadequately addressed by healthcare systems.

Offering recommendations to address these challenges, the commission emphasises the importance of enhancing communication between patients and healthcare professionals. Improved communication, it asserts, can enhance patients' quality of life, body image, treatment adherence, and ultimately, survival rates.

Reshma Jagsi, from Emory University School of Medicine, US, highlighted the historical disparity in the respect accorded to women's fundamental human rights compared to men's, affecting patient agency and autonomy. She stressed the necessity for healthcare professionals to receive communication skills training, emphasising the transformative impact of quality communication on breast cancer management.

Jagsi further advocated for empowering patients to exercise their voices in care decisions, promoting a patient-centered approach to breast cancer treatment.( From media reports)