A study conducted by the American Cancer Society (ACS), recently published in The Lancet Public Health, has revealed a troubling trend: cancer incidence rates are rising among younger generations in the U.S. The study analyzed data from 23.6 million Americans diagnosed with 34 types of cancer and 7.4 million deaths from 20 cancers, covering individuals aged 25 to 84 from 2000 to 2019.
The study found that 17 out of the 34 cancer types, including breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancers, have increasing incidence rates among younger populations, particularly Generation X and millennials, compared to baby boomers. Alongside these rising incidence rates, mortality rates have also increased for certain cancers, including liver cancer (in females only), uterine corpus, gallbladder, testicular, and colorectal cancers. Millennials are notably more likely to develop thyroid, pancreas, small intestine, kidney, and renal pelvis cancers, with uterine cancer rates being 169% higher in the 1990 birth cohort compared to earlier generations.
Researchers utilized data from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, comparing cancer rates across different birth cohorts from 1920 to 1990. The analysis revealed that cancer incidence rates increased with each successive birth cohort since 1920 for eight types of cancer and for another nine types after a decline in older cohorts.
The study suggests that generational shifts in cancer risk factors could be responsible for these increases. Possible contributors include obesity, diet, and environmental exposures. Ten of the 17 cancers with rising rates are associated with obesity, which has been increasing in the U.S. for decades. Changes in diet, particularly increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, and alterations in gut microbiomes could also play a role. Additionally, younger generations might be more exposed to carcinogens during their developmental years due to unique social, economic, political, and climate environments.
The rising cancer rates among younger generations could indicate a future increase in overall cancer burden unless effective population-level interventions are implemented. This trend highlights the need for preventive measures and comprehensive healthcare access to address underlying risk factors.
Dr. Hyuna Sung, lead author of the study and a senior principal scientist of surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society, emphasized the importance of investigating the specific causes behind these rising rates. Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science at the ACS, noted that the data underscores the critical need to identify and address risk factors in younger populations to prevent an overall increase in cancer burden. Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), stressed the importance of ensuring access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance as a key factor in improving cancer outcomes across all ages.
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