Global breast cancer survival estimates in 2017-2021 to advance the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Breast Cancer Initiative aims to attain meaningful global breast cancer mortality reductions by 2040-a target that hinges on improvements in patient outcomes and survival. So far, however, data on cancer survival remain limited in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO estimated population-based age-standardized 5-year net survival for women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2017 and 2021 across all 194 Member States, providing a global benchmark
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Breast Cancer Initiative aims to attain meaningful global breast cancer mortality reductions by 2040-a target that hinges on improvements in patient outcomes and survival. So far, however, data on cancer survival remain limited in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO estimated population-based age-standardized 5-year net survival for women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2017 and 2021 across all 194 Member States, providing a global benchmark for monitoring breast cancer outcomes. Here we found that median 5-year net survival varied widely across WHO regions during 2017-2021: 39.1% (95% uncertainty interval 34.1-44.7%) in the African Region, 61.0% (51.4-69.8%) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 66.3% (57.7-73.7%) in the South-East Asia Region, 81.1% (78.6-83.5%) in the Western Pacific Region, 84.0% (82.8-85.1%) in the European Region and 88.5% (86.7-90.1%) in the Region of the Americas. Persisting disparities in survival reflect profound global inequities; sustained initiatives to narrow gaps in access to diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer are crucial to strengthening health systems. This will enable all countries to ensure optimal outcomes for their patients with breast cancer and achieve Global Breast Cancer Initiative and Sustainable Development Goals targets.
