Eduard Teixidor
Assistant doctor of medical oncology at the Catalan Institute of Oncology and at the Girona University Hospital Doctor Josep Trueta
The data represent a wake-up call regarding the current and future implications of cancer in our global society. As problems in one part of the world become increasingly commonplace (e.g. the covid crisis), these data show that the expected increase in cancer cases will create additional pressure, especially in countries with lower rates of development.
It should be noted that the increase in cancer cases is related to exponential population growth and improvements in life expectancy. Survival, on the other hand, is more associated with early diagnosis and treatment. While advances are being made in cancer diagnosis and treatment, these often come with a high economic impact. Growing inequity between countries will increasingly highlight differences in the ability to tackle malignancies. The current situation already represents a global problem; however, with these dynamics, it is inevitable that it will intensify exponentially sooner rather than later. It is our responsibility, as a society, to meet this challenge by implementing comprehensive prevention measures and improving the cost-effectiveness of our treatments.
[In terms of methodology] The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the standard setter for data collection and analysis to provide this data to society. Its analyses are rigorous and exemplary of quality. However, it is crucial to recognise that any observational study faces potential limitations, especially when addressing such a vast and diverse area. Furthermore, future projections are based on data observed so far, which implies that substantial changes may occur over time.