A Lancet study published on Thursday predicts that over the next 20 years, the number of new cases of prostate cancer worldwide would more than double as poorer countries catch up with the ageing of richer nations.
“Our findings suggest that the number of new cases annually will rise from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million by 2040, stated a medical journal based on a report of demographic changes.
The researchers who conducted the study found an association between the rise in instances and global shifts in the age pyramid as well as longer life expectancies.
With around 15% of cases, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among males. It primarily appears after the age of 50 and increases in frequency as men become older.
According to the experts, the number of instances of prostate cancer rises in developing nations as life expectancy rises.
Compared to lung cancer or heart illnesses, they stressed that public health interventions could not impact this shift.
When it comes to the cause of lung cancer, for instance, genetic factors are far less manageable than smoking. Although a connection has been shown between weight and prostate cancer the precise cause of the disease is still unknown.
Furthermore, because the disease is frequently detected too late to provide a viable treatment, researchers stated that health officials in underdeveloped nations need to promote early screening.
