Breast cancer diagnoses and deaths are expected to increase significantly worldwide over the next few decades, with developing countries expected to bear the greatest burden, according to the latest projections from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 2022, 2.3 million women globally were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 670,000 died from the disease. With one in 20 women diagnosed in their lifetime, breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women. By 2050, breast cancer deaths are projected to rise by 68%, while new cases will increase by 38%.

“Every minute, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide, and one woman dies from the disease, and these statistics are worsening,” said Dr. Joanne Kim, an IARC scientist and co-author of the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine.

While death rates have declined in Cuba and 29 wealthier nations, only seven countries—Malta, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Slovenia—are meeting global health targets to reduce breast cancer deaths by at least 2.5% annually. Several others, including Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, are nearing this goal. According to the study, if all countries achieved this reduction, global breast cancer deaths could be nearly halved by 2050.

The highest breast cancer incidence rates were reported in Australia, New Zealand, Northern America, and Northern Europe, possibly due to lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and lower physical activity levels. In Europe, the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer ranges from 4.9% in Ukraine to 11.1% in France. The risk of dying from the disease varies from 1.1% in Norway and Spain to 2.6% in Montenegro.

However, the mortality rate is significantly higher in developing regions like Melanesia, Polynesia, and Western Africa due to limited access to early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. While only 17% of breast cancer patients in wealthier nations die from the disease, the mortality rate rises to 56% in developing countries. Additionally, breast cancer is diagnosed at a younger age in Africa, where 47% of cases occur in women under 50, compared with 18% in North America, 19% in Europe, and 22% in Oceania.

Dr. Kim emphasized the importance of government investment in early detection and treatment programs, stating that such efforts could save millions of lives in the coming decades.

A recent report from Cancer Research UK reveals stark disparities in cancer care across the United Kingdom, with cancer death rates nearly 60% higher in the most deprived areas compared to wealthier regions. The analysis estimates that about 28,400 cancer deaths each year—roughly three in every 20—are linked to socioeconomic inequality.

The study found that nearly one in 10 cancer diagnoses is associated with neighborhood deprivation, measured by factors such as income, education, and access to services. Lung cancer accounts for almost half of these deprivation-related deaths.

“These figures are shocking and unacceptable,” said Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of policy and information. He pointed to disparities in cancer risks, delayed diagnoses, and limited access to treatment as key drivers of the problem.

Two major risk factors—smoking and obesity—are more prevalent in deprived areas. Smoking rates are three times higher in these communities, and nearly 40% of residents are classified as obese. Limited access to green spaces and healthy food further contributes to these health challenges.

The report also highlighted differences in cancer diagnosis and treatment. People in deprived areas are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages, reducing their chances of survival. For certain cancers, they are less likely to receive chemotherapy, surgery, or innovative treatments. In England, many patients in these areas wait 104 days—over three months—or longer to begin treatment after an urgent referral for suspected cancer.

Walker emphasized the importance of early diagnosis, which can significantly improve survival rates. To address these issues, the charity is urging the UK government to increase funding for cancer and prevention services in high-need areas, including smoking cessation programs and nationwide lung cancer screenings.

“Beating cancer must mean beating it for everybody,” Walker said, underscoring the need to close the care gap and ensure equal access to life-saving treatments across all communities.

A woman from Georgia, United States, is suing a fertility clinic after discovering she had given birth to another couple’s baby due to an embryo mix-up.

Krystena Murray, 38, became pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 2023 and delivered a healthy baby boy in December. However, she immediately suspected something was wrong when she noticed the child was Black, while both she and her sperm donor are White. Subsequent DNA tests confirmed that the baby was not biologically related to her.

Murray claims that doctors at Coastal Fertility Specialists mistakenly implanted another couple’s embryo during the IVF procedure. Despite the mix-up, she initially decided to raise the child as her own. However, after notifying the clinic of the error, the staff informed the baby’s biological parents, who then sought custody through legal action.

Facing a court battle she felt she could not win, Murray relinquished custody when the child was five months old in May 2024. “I have never felt so violated, and the situation has left me emotionally and physically broken,” she said during a virtual press conference. “I spent my entire life wanting to be a mom. I loved, nurtured, and grew my child, and I would have done literally anything to keep him.”

Lawsuit and Clinic’s Response

On Tuesday, Murray filed a civil lawsuit against the fertility clinic, alleging negligence and seeking unspecified monetary damages for the emotional distress caused by the mix-up. Her attorney, Adam Wolf, emphasized the gravity of the mistake, stating that Murray had been “turned into an unwitting surrogate, against her will, for another couple.”

In a statement, Coastal Fertility Specialists acknowledged the error, describing it as “unprecedented” and apologizing to those affected. The clinic assured that it had implemented new safeguards to prevent similar incidents, adding, “This was an isolated event with no further patients affected. We are doing everything we can to make things right.”

Unanswered Questions and Rare Occurrence

Murray’s attorney noted that she still does not know what happened to her own embryos. While mistakes involving lost or damaged embryos are not uncommon, instances of transferring the wrong embryo are considered rare.

“Fertility clinics engage in vitally important work,” Wolf said. “With that amazing work comes a real responsibility. And when fertility clinics make mistakes like this, the consequences are life-altering.”

Reflecting on her experience, Murray expressed hope that her case would raise awareness among women considering IVF. “I considered the risks of bleeding, infection, and even death,” she said. “But never once did I think I might give birth to someone else’s child and then have them taken away from me.”