It Is Time to Close the Gap in Cancer Care

Cancer is a leading cause of death in every country worldwide. In 2020, almost 10 million people died from cancer, a number which is expected to rise to 16.3 million by 2040. 2 Alongside this, cancer incidence continues to grow, driven by an aging and growing population and changes in the prevalence and distribution of cancer risk factors. Specifically, over the next 2 decades, the number of new cancer cases will rise more than 50% to 30.2 million. 2 While the overall burden grows, so do inequities in who can access cancer services, who has a greater chance of survival, and what the financial and social impacts of a cancer diagnosis are for individuals, their families, and communities. Addressing these inequities is a critical challenge for the cancer community, but it is the one that we must tackle to achieve higher quality of life and better outcomes for all.