LIVE UPDATES
A new study has predicted a surge in prostate cancer cases globally.
The report, published in The Lancet on Thursday, said that the number of new diagnoses will more than double by 2040.
"Our findings suggest that the number of new cases annually will rise from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million by 2040," the medical journal stated, basing this on a demographic analysis.
Researchers have linked this rise to two factors: increasing life expectancy and a shifting global age structure.
Prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men (accounting for roughly 15% of cases), primarily affects those over 50 and becomes more likely with age.
As life expectancy improves in developing countries, so too will the number of prostate cancer diagnoses, the study suggests.
Unlike lung cancer, heavily influenced by smoking, or heart disease, public health policies have limited impact on prostate cancer rates.
Hereditary factors play a larger role, though weight may also be a contributing factor. Still, a direct cause-and-effect relationship hasn't been established yet.
The study emphasizes the need for earlier screening programs in developing countries, where prostate cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage, hindering treatment options.
