A STUDY released Tuesday found that the Philippines saw a 41 percent increase in breast cancer deaths among women, one of the highest in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to a 2026 study published by The Lancet Oncology, annual breast cancer cases are projected to rise by one-third, reaching 3.5 million by 2050.
The increase is reportedly the product of lifestyle-related factors, such as smoking, high blood sugar and obesity.
The study noted that while new cases remain highest in high-income countries, incidence is growing rapidly in lower-income countries like the Philippines, accounting for over 45 percent of all ill health and premature deaths globally.
Kayleigh Bhangdia, lead author from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said the growing burden is shifting toward low- and lower-middle-income countries.
“While those in high-income countries typically benefit from screening and more timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment strategies, the mounting burden of breast cancer is shifting to low- and lower-middle-income countries, where individuals often face later-stage diagnosis, more limited access to quality care, and higher death rates that are threatening to eclipse progress in women’s health,” she said.
The study stressed the need for preventive measures and ensuring that health systems are capable of early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, as well as making cancer services affordable.
“LMICs (lower-middle-income countries) are hit hardest by escalating breast cancer burden as many of these nations grapple with lifestyle and demographic changes alongside health systems that are less equipped than ideal to respond, with shortages of radiotherapy machines, chemotherapy drugs, and pathology labs, and standard treatments that can be quite costly,” said Dr. Olayinka Ilesanmi, co-author of the study.
The authors stressed the need for equitable access to care in low-income countries, investment in therapies, and strong political will for cancer control.
“Collaborative efforts are needed to ensure well-functioning health systems capable of early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of breast cancer in all countries. Reducing the cost of breast cancer therapies and ensuring that universal health coverage includes breast cancer care essentials would also be valuable in protecting patients from catastrophic costs and improving outcomes,” said Dr. Lisa Force, co-senior author of the study.
The study further noted that maintaining a healthy lifestyle could help prevent over a quarter of healthy years lost to illness and premature death due to breast cancer worldwide.