A major international report on prostate cancer has warned the world to start preparing for a surge in cases as the global population ages and more middle-aged and older men enter the risk zone for the disease.

The report by the Lancet Commission on Prostate Cancer, published on Friday, projects a global annual rise in cases from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million in 2040, with deaths increasing by 85 per cent to 700,000 a year.