Breast cancer diagnoses and deaths expected to surge worldwide, says WHO

Most breast cancer cases and deaths occur in women aged 50 and above, who account for 71% of new cases and 79% of deaths. Photograph: thomasandreas/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Breast cancer diagnoses and deaths are projected to surge worldwide by 2050, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency has said, with cases in the UK to rise by 21% and deaths by 42%.

Globally, one in 20 women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime, with cases up 38% and deaths up 68% over the next 25 years, according to an analysis by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).