A major study by NIH researchers shows that more and more young Americans suffer from certain types of cancer. From 2010 to 2019, 14 cancer types increased in people under the age of 50, with breast, colorectal, kidney and uterine cancer showing the largest increase. The results of the study published in Cancer Discovery on May 8 provide important insights into changing cancer patterns at different ages.
Which cancers are increasing among young people?
A comprehensive NIH analysis examines 33 different cancer types using national data. While some cancers have decreased in young people, 14 cancers in at least one young age show an unsettling increase.
“This study provides a starting point for understanding the increase in cancer in individuals under 50 years of age,” said Dr. Meredith Shiels, principal investigator at the National Cancer Institute of NIH.
Nine of these cancer types also increased older people (50+), suggesting a broader trend affecting Americans of all ages. These include some of the most common cancers:
- Female breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Three types of lymphomas
The five cancer types in the age group only increase: melanoma, cervical cancer, gastric cancer, myeloma and cancers of bones and joints.
The scope of the problem
To understand the real-world impact, researchers calculated how many cases occurred in 2019 compared to the 2010 interest rate expectations. These numbers are eye-opening:
Women have approximately 4,800 other cases, followed by colorectal cancer (2,100), kidney (1,800) and uterine cancer (1,200). These four cancer types account for more than 80% of all other premature cancers in 2019.
Despite these increases in diagnosis rates, most cancer types remain stable in mortality among young people. However, researchers noted that deaths in colorectal and uterine cancer increased in younger age groups.
Why do these changes happen?
The reasons behind these trends may vary by cancer type. “These causes of these increases may be cancer-specific, including cancer risk factors becoming more common in the youth, changes in cancer screening or testing, and updates to clinical diagnosis or cancer coding,” Shiite said.
The rise in obesity rates may play a role in some of these increases. Changes in screening guidelines, better imaging techniques, and increased monitoring of high-risk individuals can also contribute to early capture of cancer.
It is worth noting that not all cancer news is worrying. The study found that people under 50, including lung and prostate cancer, actually had 19 reduced cancer types. As a result, overall cancer and mortality rates did not increase.
Outlook: More research is needed
The researchers stressed that this study is just the beginning. To better understand and address these trends, future research will require the study of early onset cancer between different population groups and geographical regions in the United States and internationally.
In particular, additional studies are needed to identify risk factors that may affect young people. This information is critical to developing prevention strategies and possibly updating screening guidelines to capture these cancers when it is easier to treat.
As cancer patterns continue to evolve, understanding these changing trends will help healthcare providers and individuals make better decisions about cancer prevention, screening and early detection – especially for those under 50 who are usually not at high risk.
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