Health

Global Cancer Deaths Projected to Rise 75% by 2050, Lower-Income Countries Most at Risk

Published

11 months ago

September 25, 2025

The global cancer burden is set to soar in the coming decades, with deaths projected to increase by nearly 75 percent by 2050 despite major medical advances, according to a new analysis published in The Lancet.

The study forecasts that 18.6 million people worldwide will die of cancer in 2050, compared to 10.4 million in 2023. New cancer cases are expected to rise by more than 60 percent in the same period, reaching 30.5 million. Researchers attributed the surge largely to population growth and ageing, which will expand the pool of people most vulnerable to the disease.

Cancer remains closely tied to lifestyle and environmental risks. More than 40 percent of cancer deaths in 2023 were linked to 44 “modifiable” risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, obesity, high blood sugar, and alcohol consumption. Among men, modifiable risks accounted for 46 percent of deaths, led by tobacco use, dietary choices, alcohol, workplace hazards, and air pollution. For women, 36 percent of cancer deaths were tied to modifiable factors, including tobacco, unsafe sex, diet, and high blood sugar.

“There are tremendous opportunities for countries to target these risk factors, potentially preventing cases of cancer and saving lives,” said Dr. Theo Vos, a researcher at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and one of the study’s authors.

The analysis tracked data from 1990 to 2023, covering 47 types of cancer across 204 countries and territories, before projecting trends through 2050. While overall cancer incidence and deaths have climbed sharply since 1990, death rates have declined in many high-income countries due to earlier detection, improved treatments, and prevention strategies such as anti-smoking campaigns.

However, lower-income countries are expected to bear the brunt of the future cancer epidemic. The report warns that they will account for more than half of new cancer cases and two-thirds of cancer deaths by 2050. Limited access to timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and supportive care could turn the situation into what researchers described as an “impending disaster.”

“Cancer is already stretching healthcare systems in lower-income countries, and this rising burden will worsen existing inequalities,” said Meghnath Dhimal of the Nepal Health Research Council, a co-author of the study. He emphasized the need for cost-effective interventions that can be implemented even in resource-constrained settings.

The authors urged governments to prioritize preventive health measures, strengthen screening and diagnostic capacity, and expand access to affordable cancer care. They stressed that curbing risk factors could substantially reduce future cases and deaths, especially in countries where healthcare systems are least prepared for the challenge.

As cancer cases and deaths climb over the next 25 years, the report concludes, addressing modifiable risks and investing in healthcare infrastructure will be critical to averting millions of preventable deaths.

Health

North African Dust Set to Worsen Air Quality Across Portugal

Published

22 hours ago

September 4, 2026

Web Reporter

Air quality is expected to deteriorate across much of mainland Portugal over the coming days as dust carried from North Africa moves through the atmosphere, with health authorities warning vulnerable groups to take extra precautions.

Portugal’s Directorate-General of Health (DGS) has issued a warning about the expected decline in air quality, particularly in central and southern parts of the country. The dust is being carried by an air mass originating from the deserts of North Africa and is expected to affect much of mainland Portugal.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has also forecast suspended dust on Friday and Saturday.

The DGS said the phenomenon is expected to increase concentrations of naturally occurring inhalable particles, particularly PM10, in the air. Exposure to elevated levels of these particles can affect health, with children, older people and those with existing medical conditions considered more vulnerable.

Health officials are advising people to avoid prolonged physical exertion and reduce outdoor activity while the dust remains in the atmosphere. Residents have also been urged to avoid exposure to tobacco smoke and other sources of irritation.

Children, elderly people and those suffering from chronic respiratory conditions, particularly asthma, are being advised to remain indoors whenever possible. People with cardiovascular disease are also considered at greater risk. The DGS recommends that vulnerable residents keep windows closed where possible during the episode.

People receiving treatment for chronic illnesses have been advised to continue taking their prescribed medication.

The air-quality warning comes as parts of Portugal also face a heightened risk of rural fires amid continuing hot weather.

Eleven municipalities in the districts of Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco and Coimbra are under the highest rural fire alert level on Friday, according to IPMA.

The weather agency has also issued yellow heat warnings for several districts, including Bragança, Viseu, Évora, Guarda, Faro, Vila Real, Setúbal, Santarém, Lisbon, Leiria, Beja, Castelo Branco, Coimbra and Portalegre. The warnings remain in place until 7pm on Saturday.

Temperatures are expected to ease slightly from the peak recorded on Thursday, particularly along coastal areas, but conditions will remain warm. Temperatures are forecast to stay above 20C in many areas, including regions south of the Tagus River.

The combination of suspended dust and high temperatures could create additional challenges for people with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Authorities are therefore urging vulnerable residents to limit outdoor activity and monitor their health while the dust episode continues.

The DGS has stressed that precautions should remain in place for as long as the poor air-quality conditions persist, particularly for people who are more sensitive to airborne particles.

Health

New Zealand Approves MDMA Treatment for Severe PTSD Under Strict Medical Controls

Published

22 hours ago

September 4, 2026

Web Reporter

New Zealand has authorised two psychiatrists to prescribe pharmaceutical-grade MDMA to patients with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), making it only the second country after Australia to permit the drug for clinical treatment.

Wellington psychiatrist Dr Gary Wynn and Auckland psychiatrist Dr Tom Paterson received approval from New Zealand’s medicines regulator, Medsafe, following a regulatory process that lasted more than a year. The approvals allow MDMA to be used in controlled clinical settings as part of treatment for eligible patients.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour welcomed the decision, saying PTSD can have a devastating effect on people and remains difficult to treat. Seymour previously supported approval of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, for severe depression.

PTSD can develop after people experience or face the threat of traumatic events, including combat, sexual assault and the sudden death of someone close to them. Symptoms can include intrusive memories, anxiety, sleep problems and emotional distress.

Treatment options remain limited in many countries. Two antidepressants are commonly approved for PTSD, but they can take several months to produce an effect and do not work equally well for every patient.

New Zealand’s decision is based partly on results from two international Phase 3 clinical trials conducted by the US-based Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and sponsored by its public benefit corporation, Lykos Therapeutics.

A 2021 trial found that 88% of participants with severe PTSD who received MDMA-assisted therapy experienced clinically significant improvement, while 67% no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

A second trial, published in 2023, involved people with moderate-to-severe PTSD. Researchers reported that 71.2% of participants receiving MDMA-assisted therapy no longer met the diagnostic criteria by the end of the study.

The evidence has faced scrutiny in the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration rejected approval of the treatment in 2024, citing concerns about the available evidence for its safety and effectiveness.

US regulators also raised concerns about expectancy bias among participants who had previously used MDMA, which could have affected the reliability of the trial findings.

New Zealand has opted for a tightly controlled approach. The Ministry of Health said MDMA treatment would only be provided alongside psychotherapy in a clinical environment and would not involve take-home doses.

Patients must be at least 18 years old, and treatment must be administered by an authorised psychiatrist as part of a comprehensive care plan.

The approvals mark a significant step for psychedelic-assisted therapy in New Zealand while keeping MDMA use under close medical supervision.

Health

Irregular Sleep Patterns Linked to Higher Anxiety Risk Among Teenagers

Published

2 days ago

September 3, 2026

Web Reporter

Teenagers who regularly change their sleeping patterns between weekdays and weekends may face a greater risk of anxiety, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.

The findings come as students return to school after the summer break, when many adolescents may have become accustomed to later nights and longer mornings. The shift back to early school schedules can create a mismatch between weekday and weekend sleep patterns, a phenomenon researchers describe as “social jet lag.”

A review of 12 studies involving more than 230,000 participants found that teenagers experiencing greater levels of social jet lag were more likely to report higher levels of anxiety. The relationship also appeared to work in the opposite direction, with higher anxiety associated with greater disruption to sleep schedules.

However, researchers stressed that the findings show an association rather than proving that irregular sleep directly causes anxiety.

The study highlights the importance of encouraging healthy and consistent sleeping habits as part of efforts to support adolescent mental health. Anxiety is already one of the most common mental health problems among young people.

The World Health Organization estimates that anxiety disorders affect about 4.4% of children aged 10 to 14 and 5.5% of those aged 15 to 19 worldwide. Such disorders involve persistent fear or nervousness that can be difficult to control.

Researchers say adolescence is a particularly important period for sleep because biological changes naturally alter young people’s body clocks.

Sarah Chellappa, a co-author of the study from the University of Southampton, said teenagers generally experience a shift toward later sleep during puberty.

“During puberty, the body’s internal clock usually shifts back by a few hours,” she said, meaning teenagers naturally become sleepy later and may need to wake later as well.

Early school starts can conflict with this biological change. Social activities, online communication and other demands can also reduce the amount of sleep teenagers get during the week.

Hannah Ravenhall, lead author of the study, said the issue should not be viewed solely as a matter of individual responsibility.

She said broader social systems can influence young people’s sleep and called for greater recognition of the biological changes that occur during adolescence.

The researchers suggested that schools could consider whether their start times adequately reflect teenagers’ changing sleep needs. Parents could also review evening routines, including rules around screen use.

Rather than simply encouraging teenagers to go to bed earlier, the researchers argue that more consistent schedules and changes to the environments in which young people live and study could help support better sleep and mental wellbeing.