- Lancet Oncology research highlights rising cases and health inequalities
Bhopal: Breast cancer is emerging as one of the biggest health challenges for women worldwide, with an estimated 2.3 million new cases and about 7,64,000 deaths reported globally in 2023. These findings were revealed in a major international study published in the March 2026 issue of the prestigious journal The Lancet Oncology. Notably, Dr. Sukhesh Mukherjee, Additional Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at AIIMS Bhopal, was among the co-authors of the global research.
The study found that breast cancer detection rates are higher in wealthy countries due to better screening facilities, regular health check-ups and greater awareness.
Breast cancer deaths have increased sharply in poor countries
However, the situation is far more concerning in low-income countries. Although reported cases are comparatively lower, breast cancer deaths have increased sharply—by nearly 99.3 percent since 1990—mainly due to delayed diagnosis, limited healthcare resources and inadequate treatment facilities. The research was conducted under the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
