Although deaths from breast cancer have been declining in the United States in recent decades, the number of breast cancer diagnoses among women under 50 is on the rise.
That’s according to a new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS), “Breast Cancer Statistics, 2024.”
The good news is that since 1989, the overall breast cancer death rate has decreased by 44%, but the number of breast cancer diagnoses has increased by 1% each year from 2012 to 2021.
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The report found that the biggest spikes were among women under 50 (up to 1.4% per year) and Asian American/Pacific Islander women (up to 2.7% per year).
The findings were published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Although deaths from breast cancer have been declining in the United States in recent decades, the number of breast cancer diagnoses among women under 50 is on the rise. (St. Petersburg)
“Thanks to advances in early detection and treatment, breast cancer mortality rates have decreased by 44%, but breast cancer incidence continues to increase and progress may slow in the future,” lead author said Angela Giaquinto, associate scientist in cancer surveillance research at ACS. he told FOX News Digital.
This is especially true for women under 50, where the rate is increasing by 1.4% per year compared to 0.7% per year for older women, she said.
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Dr. William Dahut, ACS chief scientific officer, said that while women are “fairly unlikely” to die from breast cancer, there are “staggering disparities,” especially for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Indigenous peoples, and Black people. ” still remains. woman.
“We need to address these disparities through systematic efforts to ensure all women have access to high-quality testing and treatment,” she said in the release.
Although women are “substantially less likely” to die from breast cancer, “alarming disparities” remain, particularly among Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native American, and Black women, the researchers said. (St. Petersburg)
This report brings together cancer data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Cancer Registry Program (NPCR), and the National Center for Health Statistics. It is.
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“The reasons for the increased incidence of breast cancer in younger patients are complex, multifaceted, and still under investigation.”
According to the ACS, approximately 310,720 women are expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year and approximately 42,250 will die from the disease.
“The increasing incidence of breast cancer is not just a problem in the United States. We are seeing similar trends in other countries,” Dr. Christopher McGreevey, vice chair of breast surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, told Fox News. . digital.
Potential reasons for the younger age trend
“The reasons for the increased incidence of breast cancer in younger patients are complex, multifaceted, and are still being studied,” said McGreevey, who was not involved in the report.
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The doctor pointed out that one of the reasons why breast cancer develops at an early stage is that many patients are obese.
“Excess weight, especially after menopause, stimulates the production of estrogen, which is the main cause of certain breast cancers,” she said.
The best prevention method, researchers say, is to ask your doctor about a screening test. (St. Petersburg)
Because pregnancy lowers a woman’s risk of breast cancer, delaying childbirth may also increase the incidence of the disease, McGreevy noted.
“Environmental toxins in everything from plastics to pesticides are also suspected to be a culprit,” he said.
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“These endocrine disruptors mimic estrogen in the body and can cause abnormal cell growth.”
Doctors say genetics may also be a factor in the increase.
The increase in young women may also be a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has been exacerbated by delays in diagnosis due to screening disruptions, researchers said. (St. Petersburg)
“Certain genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, significantly increase the risk of breast cancer, even at a young age,” she said.
The increase in young women may also be a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has been exacerbated by delays in diagnosis due to screening disruptions, researchers said.
Potential limitations
The researchers acknowledged that the study had some limitations.
“The study’s risks and trends included all women and accounted for individual patient characteristics, such as comorbidities and treatments received, as well as social determinants of health, such as insurance status. I can’t,” Giaquinto told Fox News Digital.
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“We also present statistics for broad racial and ethnic groups that mask substantial differences within these groups.”
prevention tips
Giaquinto said the best preventive measure is to talk to your doctor about screening tests.
“Early detection of breast cancer is one of the best tools to improve survival rates,” she told FOX News Digital.
“Women can also reduce their risk of breast cancer by moderating their alcohol intake if they drink, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active,” researchers advised. (St. Petersburg)
“All women should stay up to date on recommended breast cancer screenings. This is especially true for younger women, as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s recommended age was recently lowered to 40 years.”
Women also need to be aware of family history and personal risk factors, Jaquinto added.
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“Women can also reduce their risk of breast cancer by moderating their alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active if they drink,” researchers advised.
“About 30% of all breast cancers are thought to be due to these lifestyle factors.”
