In this study, researchers evaluated the burden for 29 cancer groups over time to provide a framework for policy discussion, resource allocation, and research focus. According to findings, large disparities between countries in cancer incidence, deaths, and related disability do exist. Thus, the investigators recommended scaling up cancer prevention and safeguarding universal access to cancer care, which are required for health equity, and to fulfill global commitments for noncommunicable disease and cancer control.

Methods

• Experts assessed the cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 195 countries and territories by age and sex using the Global Burden of Disease study estimation methods.
• They analyzed the levels and trends over time, as well as by the Sociodemographic Index (SDI).
• They categorized the changes in incident cases by changes due to epidemiological vs demographic transition.

Results

• There were 17.2 million cancer cases worldwide and 8.9 million deaths in 2016.
• There was an increase in cancer cases by 28% between 2006 and 2016.
• High SDI countries demonstrated the smallest increase.
• Globally, population aging, population growth, and changes in age-specific rates contributed to this change by 17%, 12%, and, -1%, respectively.
• Prostate cancer was the most common incident cancer globally for men (1.4 million cases).
• Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (1.2 million deaths and 25.4 million DALYs) were the leading cause of cancer deaths and DALYs.
• For women, breast cancer was the most common incident cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths and DALYs (1.7 million incident cases; 535,000 deaths; and 14.9 million DALYs).
• Cancer caused 213.2 million DALYs globally in 2016, for both sexes combined.
• According to results, the average annual age-standardized incidence rates for all cancers combined increased in 130 of 195 countries or territories, and the average annual age-standardized death rates decreased within that timeframe in 143 of 195 countries or territories between 2006 and 2016.