Lancet Study Maps Stark Global Gaps in Women's Cancer Care

Overview

• Early-stage diagnosis for breast and cervical cancer is about 40% in high‑income countries versus roughly 20% in low‑ and middle‑income countries, with ovarian cancer seldom caught early anywhere.
• Researchers analyzed individual records for more than 275,000 women from 103 population‑based cancer registries in 39 countries covering 2015–2018.
• Surgery was offered to 78% of women in high‑income countries compared with 56% in low‑ and middle‑income countries, and waits to surgery were longer in lower‑income settings.
• Care often diverged from guidelines, including higher mastectomy rates for early‑stage breast cancer in many lower‑income countries and notable variation in some wealthier nations.
• Authors link disparities to socioeconomic barriers and limited facilities and call for policy action aligned with WHO initiatives to expand access and strengthen cancer registries.