Cancer rates rising among Generation X and millennials, study shows

The latest research indicates that Generation X and millennials may have higher cancer rates. According to a report published in "The Lancet Public Health," older generations have a lower risk of developing as many as 17 types of cancer.

Generation X refers to people born between 1965 and 1980, while millennials, also known as Generation Y, were born between 1981 and 1996. Scientists suggest they may be more prone to certain cancers.

Researchers from the American Cancer Society conducted a study which found that 17 out of 34 types of cancer affect younger generations. The specialists' report describes 24 million diagnoses and 7 million deaths among people born between 1920 and 1990.

Out of the 34 cancers studied, 17 saw an increase in diagnoses among the younger demographic compared to older generations. For those born in 1990, the risk of developing pancreatic, kidney, and small intestine cancer was 2-3 times higher than for individuals born in 1955.

Researchers noted that people born around the same time experience similar social, economic, political, and environmental conditions, which may affect their cancer risk.

"These findings add to growing evidence of increased cancer risk in post-Baby Boomer generations, expanding on previous findings of early-onset colorectal cancer and a few obesity-associated cancers to encompass a broader range of cancer types," stated lead author Dr. Hyuna Sung from the American Cancer Society.

Although the number of diagnoses is rising, this does not necessarily mean an increase in mortality. Dr Hyuna Sung explained that cancers are treated much better today than in the past. The study also found that the fastest-growing cancer in terms of diagnosis and mortality rate is uterine cancer.

However, the study showed an "accelerated decline" in the incidence of cervical cancer, thanks to HPV vaccinations among women born in the 1990s.

The study was based on data from nearly 24 million patients with 34 types of cancer and mortality data covering over 7 million deaths. Researchers analysed patients aged 25-84 from 2000-2019, using information from North American cancer registries and U.S. health statistics. They compared incidence and mortality rates for different generations, taking into account age and period, grouping individuals by their birth years from 1920 to 1990.

The results showed an increase in incidence for eight out of 34 cancers in successive birth cohorts (groups of people categorised by birth year) from approximately 1920 onwards. This was particularly noticeable for pancreatic, kidney, and small intestine cancers in both sexes and liver cancer in women. For nine other cancer types, an increase in incidence was observed in younger groups after a previous decline in older cohorts.

After 1990, incidence rates were 12-169 per cent higher compared to the cohort with the lowest incidence, depending on the type of cancer. Notably, mortality rates for some cancers also increased among younger people.

Experts emphasise that rising cancer rates among younger generations may indicate a future increase in the cancer burden on society. They highlight the need to identify and eliminate risk factors, particularly among Generation X and millennials, to develop effective prevention strategies and avoid setbacks in the fight against cancer.