Experts are sounding the alarm. A new study has found that millennials and Gen Xers have seen a dramatic rise in the incidence of 17 different types of cancer in recent years. For certain cancers, people born in 1990 face two to three times the risk compared to those born in 1955, according to a study published in The Lancet Public Health. The findings reflect recent concerns. Increasing incidence of colon cancer among young peopleBut it adds further forms of the disease to the list of concerns.
It’s too early to say for sure what’s causing the rise in what experts call “early-onset” cancers, but they caution that improved testing alone is not to blame: People are dying from these diseases in higher numbers and at older ages than their parents’ generation.
Here’s what you need to know about intergenerational cancer risks and what you can do to reduce your risk.
What did the new study find?
Researchers from the American Cancer Society (ACS) assessed the incidence of 34 types of cancer in people born between 1920 and 1990, based on the number of people diagnosed with and died from cancer from 2000 to 2019.
The study found that incidence rates of 17 types of cancer, including pancreatic, breast and stomach, have increased, on average, with each generation since 1920. Previous ACS research had shown that incidence rates of 11 types of cancer, including pancreatic, colorectal, kidney, uterine and testicular cancer, are rising among young adults. The new study adds eight more types of cancer to that list.
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Gastric cardia cancer (cancer of the stomach lining)
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Small intestine cancer
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Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer
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Ovarian cancer
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Liver and bile duct cancer
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Non-HPV-related oral and pharyngeal cancer (women only)
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Anal cancer (men only)
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Kaposi’s sarcoma (cancer of the lining of blood vessels and lymph nodes, men only)
Rates of some cancers, including kidney, pancreatic, and small intestine, have doubled or even tripled in both men and women. Among women, liver cancer rates have increased two- to three-fold since the 1920s. Even cancers that seemed to be declining among baby boomers and older generations (such as some forms of breast and testicular cancer) are once again a major risk for millennials and Gen Xers, studies have found.
More young people are dying from these cancers. Mortality from cancer of the colon, gallbladder, testicles, and uterus has increased with each generation. Liver cancer mortality has also increased, but only in women. [and diagnoses] “This suggests that what we’re seeing is not just an artifact of more frequent screening and diagnosis,” said lead investigator and chief scientist for surveillance and health equity science at ACS. Song Hyun Ah“Rather, it represents a true increase in risk, with the increase in incidence outpacing improvements in diagnosis and treatment,” Yahoo Life reported.
Why did this happen?
The new study doesn’t explain why this is happening, but Song and other experts see obesity as a prime suspect: 10 of the 17 cancers that are on the rise across generations. Associated with obesitythe study authors noted.
Research is ongoing to determine exactly how obesity affects or causes cancer, but there are a few leading theories. Timothy Rebeck“Becoming obese causes a lot of changes in the body, including chronic inflammation, which can cause years of damage to cells and tissues in the body and can lead to cancer,” the cancer prevention professor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute tells Yahoo Life.
by MD Anderson Cancer CenterHowever, this is not directly due to a person’s body mass index (BMI), but rather due to changes in insulin sensitivity and increases in certain hormones that can promote uncontrolled cell growth and ultimately lead to cancer.
The simultaneous rise in obesity and cancer rates, especially among young adults, suggests the problem may begin in early childhood or even before birth, Rebeck says. “The process of cell damage starts earlier and earlier, so if there’s a 20-year lag from exposure to obesity, and it starts at age 10, you’re in your 30s or 40s before you’re at risk for cancer,” he hypothesizes. The timeline also suggests there may be other early-life environmental exposures, including antibiotic use and diet, that can alter your constitution. Intestinal bacteriaThis may affect a person’s cancer risk.
What you can do to reduce the risk
Although the findings are alarming, experts say we shouldn’t get too worried. That’s because “cancer diagnosed in people under 50 is still relatively rare,” Rebeck said. Of the 100,000 cases of cancer diagnosed each year, only about 350 are found in people between the ages of 45 and 49. National Cancer Institute“We don’t want people to panic, but we want people to be informed and take action that can have an impact,” Rebeck said.
It means making simple changes to live the healthiest lifestyle possible. Reduces the risk of cancerExperts say that by doing your best to maintain a healthy weight, exercising regularly and eating a low-calorie, balanced diet, Ultra-Processed Foods Eat more lean meat, more plant-based foods and fish like salmon, keep alcohol consumption to a minimum and don’t smoke. “None of this is easy, but it’s something we can encourage,” Rebeck says.
It’s also important to know your family history and talk to your health care provider if you notice any changes that could be early warning signs of cancer. In young people, some cancers, such as colorectal cancer, can be “suggested to be early warning signs, such as fatigue, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, or Unexplained weight lossThese are considered warning signs of early cancer,” Song said.
