A global study published in The Lancet Oncology projects over 3.5 million new breast cancer cases annually worldwide by 2050. The research analyzes incidence and mortality rates across 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2023, revealing that while Greece shows a relatively high incidence, mortality has decreased by roughly 20% since 1990.

Breast cancer remains the leading cause of premature death among women globally. In 2023, approximately 2.3 million new cases were recorded, with 73% occurring in high- and upper-middle-income countries, and 764,000 deaths, 39% of which were in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Researchers forecast that by 2050, annual new cases could surpass 3.5 million and deaths could rise to 1.4 million globally. While high-income countries currently have the highest incidence rates, low-income nations have experienced the sharpest increases since 1990, highlighting growing disparities in cancer burden.

Age and regional differences are significant. Women aged 55 and older accounted for three times more new cases than younger women, but incidence among women aged 20–54 has risen 29% since 1990. In Europe, Western nations show high incidence but declining mortality thanks to screening, early diagnosis, and access to effective treatment, whereas Central and Eastern Europe report smaller mortality declines.

Greece aligns more closely with Western Europe, with high incidence but a 20% reduction in mortality over the past three decades, likely reflecting timely diagnosis and improved treatment access despite economic and healthcare system pressures.

Globally, lost years of healthy life due to breast cancer more than doubled from 11.7 million in 1990 to 24 million in 2023. Over a quarter of these losses are linked to six modifiable risk factors: high red meat consumption, smoking, elevated blood sugar, high BMI, high alcohol intake, and low physical activity—emphasizing substantial prevention potential.

The study underscores that equitable survival opportunities for all women require a combination of aggressive prevention strategies, strong health systems capable of early diagnosis and comprehensive care, and universal access to affordable treatment. Limitations include gaps in high-quality cancer registry data, especially in resource-limited countries, highlighting the need for greater investment in cancer surveillance systems.