Prostate cancer cases can double globally by 2040: Study warns

London: The number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer globally can double to 2.9 million by 2040, The Guardian reported citing a new analysis.

The annual deaths from the most common of male cancer in more than 100 nations can rise by 85%.

The findings published in journal Lancet will be presented at the annual congress of the European Association of Urology in Paris on Saturday.

Prostate cancer, a major cause of death and disability, is likely to mark a sweeping surge over the next 15 years in cases and death with ‘populations aging and life expectancy rising’.

Rising in diagnoses from 1.4m a year in 2020 to 2.9 by 2040 could mean that every hour 330 men will discover they have the disease, and alongside the study says that number of deaths from the disease will rise by85% over the 20-year period.

Number of deaths would be from 375,000 in 2020 to almost 700,000 by 2040 and death toll could go even higher owing to underdiagnosis and missing data in low and middle income countries.

Experts say that the main risk factor for the disease include being 50 or older and also having family history of the disease.

Alongside they warn that lifestyle changes or public health interventions cannot prevent the surge in cases but increasing awareness, access to earlier diagnose, and advance treatment can help save lives.

‘As more and more men around the world live to middle and old age, there will be an inevitable rise in the number of prostate cancer cases,’Prof Nick James, the lead author of the study, was quoted as saying, ‘We know this surge in cases is coming, so we need to start planning and take action now.’