Breast cancer deaths to rise 60% by 2030 in developing nations, says US study

Deaths caused by breast cancer are likely to rise to around 5.5 million per year by 2030, which is almost equal to Denmark's population. This highlights an increase of 60 percent in less than two decades, says a study conducted by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

As the global population grows and ages, the highest toll will be among women in poor and middle-income countries.

"Most of the deaths occur in young and middle-aged adults, placing a heavy burden on families and national economies," says Sally Cowal, senior vice-president of global health at the ACS, which compiled the report with pharmaceutical company Merck.

The number of cervical cancer cases is also likely to rise by at least 25 percent. It has the potential to reach above 700,000 by 2030 mostly in low and middle-income countries, another study by Lancet stated.

According to ACS, one out of seven women dies of cancer, which is the second major cause of death after heart ailments. The four most fatal types of cancers -- breast, cervical, colorectal and lung -- are detectable at its early stage and are treatable.

Lesser number of cancer cases are detected and treated in poor nations compared to the rich ones which lead to more number of deaths. The women of these countries are prone to known cancer threats such as unhealthy diet, obesity, physical inactivity and reproductive factors like postponing pregnancy, which are linked to the rapid economic transition, the Guardian reported.

"Due to these changes, cancers that were once common only in high-income countries are becoming more prevalent," stated the report titled The Global Burden of Cancer in Women.