Breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide in 2020, with high-income countries bearing the heaviest burden. Lifestyle factors play a key role.
A landmark report in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, co-authored by the American Cancer Society and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), reveals that female breast cancer is now the most frequently diagnosed cancer globally, eclipsing lung cancer for the first time. This announcement coincided with World Cancer Day on February 4, a global initiative to promote prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 19.3 million new cancer cases were recorded worldwide in 2020 (nearly 468,000 in France), alongside 10 million cancer deaths (185,621 in France). Breast cancer accounted for 11.7% of cases, followed by lung (11.4%) and colorectal (10%).
The precise reasons for this shift remain under investigation, but incidence rates are climbing even in regions with historically low rates.
"Dramatic changes in lifestyle and the built environment have impacted the prevalence of breast cancer risk factors such as excess weight, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, delayed childbearing, fewer deliveries, and less breastfeeding," the authors note.
Many breast cancer deaths in 2020 stemmed from late diagnoses. COVID-19 lockdowns disrupted organized screening programs, and patients hesitated to seek care from radiologists, gastroenterologists, or general practitioners, as highlighted by Dr. Stéphane Cornelis on France Bleu Auxerre.
Experts stress the urgency of faster patient care pathways.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a comprehensive strategy on February 4 to combat cancer, aiming to prevent 60,000 cases annually by 2040. This includes a 20% boost in resources for the disease, the leading cause of death in men and second in women.
Priorities include tobacco and alcohol prevention, plus boosting participation in screenings for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers to reach 1 million additional screenings by 2025 (from 9 million yearly).
