World Cancer Day 2025: Global cancer impact, regional variations, and healthcare initiatives

Observed annually on February 4, World Cancer Day aims to raise awareness, promote cancer prevention, and expand access to care, Kazinform News Agency reports.

Cancer and its spread globally
Photo credit: Canva

The initiative highlights the importance of equitable healthcare to lessen cancer's global effects. On this day, Kazinform reports on global cancer trends and Kazakhstan’s efforts to improve care and treatment.

World Cancer Day was created in 2000 during the Paris World Summit Against Cancer to promote patient care and research. Since then it has expanded into a worldwide movement that advocates for improved healthcare regulations and greater public awareness.

Cancer continues to be a significant worldwide health concern, with Asia having the highest absolute number of cases and North America and Europe having the highest incidence rates. A WHO survey conducted in 115 countries showed that just 39% of the nations had universal health coverage for basic cancer care, and only 28% provide coverage for necessary palliative care.

Cancer by country
Photo credit: WHO

A total of 9.7 million cancer-related deaths and 20 million new cancer diagnoses were recorded by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2022. The three most common types of cancer diagnosed globally include lung cancer (2,480,675 cases), breast cancer (2,296,840 cases), and colorectal cancer (1,926,425 cases). Lung cancer accounted for 1,817,469 deaths, while colorectal and liver cancers followed with 904,019 and 758,725 deaths, respectively.

Cancer in numbers
Photo credit: WHO

Cancer patterns differ notably between men and women. The highest incidence (1,572,045 cases) and mortality (1,233,241 deaths) among males were caused by lung cancer, which was followed by colorectal cancer (1,069,446 cases, 499,775 deaths) and prostate cancer (1,467,854 cases, 397,430 deaths). Breast cancer accounted for 666,103 deaths and 2,296,840 diagnoses among women, while lung cancer ranked second (908,630 cases, 584,228 fatalities), followed by colorectal cancer (856,979 cases, 404,244 deaths).

Cancer rates vary also by countries in Central Asia. Turkmenistan (1,001 cases), Uzbekistan (5,022 cases), and Kazakhstan (4,570 cases) have the highest rates of breast cancer. Whereas the highest records of stomach cancer are found in Kyrgyzstan (923 cases) and Tajikistan (1,195 cases).

According to the Ministry of Health, about 40,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in Kazakhstan each year. By the end of 2023, more than 218,000 people had received a formal diagnosis of cancer, and more than 12,000 people had passed away from it. Breast, colorectal, lung, stomach, and cervical cancers are the most common cancer types.

To address this issue, Kazakhstan established a national cancer care system that includes the National Scientific Cancer Center, 15 regional oncology facilities, and specialized institutions like the Kazakh Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology.

Additionally, the country provides free cancer treatment through a state-guaranteed healthcare plan and nationwide screening programs. Additionally, a brand-new, extensive program to vaccinate 11-year-old girls against cervical cancer was launched in Kazakhstan in 2024.

Earlier, Kazinform reported that an Iranian scientist has discovered an innovative method for early cancer detection, utilizing the power of artificial intelligence.

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