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Certain types of cancer are being diagnosed more frequently among younger people in the United States. new research and the increase appears to be driven by cancer in women and adults in their 30s.
A government-funded study of 17 National Cancer Institute registries, published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Network Open, found that between 2010 and 2019, more than 500,000 early-onset cancers, That is, we looked at cancers diagnosed in patients younger than 50 years. Overall, young-onset cancers increased by an average of 0.28% each year during her 10-year period.
The change appears to have been driven by an average annual increase of 0.67% in cancer incidence among young women. At the same time, the proportion of men decreased by 0.37% each year.
According to the study, the number of women with early-onset cancer was 34,233 in 2010 and 35,721 in 2019, an increase of 4.35%. For men, the number of cases decreased by 4.91% from 21,818 in 2010 to 20,747 in 2019.
The study found that cancer diagnosis rates increased over the decade in adults in their 30s but remained flat in other age groups under 50. At the same time, the incidence of cancer among adults over the age of 50 is declining.
Researchers looked at cancer trends among young adults by race and found the fastest increases in early-onset cancers among people who identified as American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, and Hispanics There was found. On average, from 2010 to 2019, young-onset cancer growth rates were stable in whites and decreased in blacks.
The cancers with the highest number of early diagnosed cases in 2019 were breast cancer (12,649 cases), thyroid cancer (5,869 cases), and colorectal cancer (4,097 cases).
The largest increase in early-onset cases was appendiceal cancer, with a 252% increase. Bile duct cancer increased by 142%. And uterine cancer increased by 76%.
The incidence of early-onset cancers of the gastrointestinal tract increased most rapidly from 2010 to 2019, increasing by nearly 15%. Previous studies have shown an increase in cancers of the gastrointestinal system, particularly colorectal cancer, among adults younger than 55 years since the 1990s.
These increases are not limited to the United States, according to the study. review A survey of cancer registries from 44 countries published last year found a rapidly increasing incidence of early-onset cancers in 14 types of cancer, many of which affect the gastrointestinal system Did.
The review authors said this rise is partly due to more sensitive screening tests and other causes that need to be investigated.
Dr. Otis Brawley, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Oncology and Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, has several theories as to what is behind the rising infection rates.
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“Currently, smoking is the leading cause of cancer in the United States, but smoking rates are [have been] “Since the 1960s, it’s been on the decline,” he said. “In the next few years, obesity will not be the leading cause of cancer in the United States; Or maybe it’s caused by increased calorie consumption, increased obesity, and lack of exercise.
Another possible cause is the use of alcohol. “Alcohol-related cancers have increased in recent years. Currently, about 6% of cancers in the United States are thought to be caused by alcohol consumption, especially binge eating and drinking.”
To lower your overall cancer risk, Brawley recommends “very basic principles.” “Try to maintain a healthy weight. Try to reduce the amount of processed foods in your diet.”
CNN’s John Bonifield contributed to this report.