Age & Cancer Rates: What’s Going On?

One of the biggest risk factors for getting cancer is aging. But in recent years, we’ve seen cancer cases in younger adults increasing. While older people are still more likely to get cancer, the increased rates in younger people are concerning. Researchers at the NIH (National Institutes of Health) recently evaluated cancer statistics from 2010 through 2019 for various age groups. Their findings were published in the May 8 edition of the journal Cancer Discovery. The scientists examined the incidence and the death rates for 33 types of cancer.  There is good news and bad news as the incidence of some cancers went down, while others went up.

Early onset cancers (people under age 50):

• The incidence of 14 types of cancers increased from 2010 to 2019 in young adults.

• The incidence of 19 other types of cancer decreased from 2010 to 2019 in young adults.

• The largest increases seen in this age group were in:

o Breast cancer

o   Colorectal cancer

o   Kidney cancer

o   Uterine cancer

There was no increase in deaths from most of these 14 cancers except for:

o   Colorectal cancer

o   Uterine cancer

Keep a couple of things in mind:

• Cancer is not one disease. There are many different types, and they are differ in their causes, incidence, and death rates.

• An increase in the incidence of a cancer doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in deaths from that cancer. A cancer can have a low incidence rate (so not very common) but a higher death rate and vice versa.

The increase in colon cancer incidence and deaths in younger adults has particularly baffled researchers. While there is a lot of speculation about what is causing it – increased body fat, processed foods, low fiber, low fruit and vegetable intake, environmental toxins - just to name a few, no one knows for certain. Changes in cancer screening guidelines, better detection tools and technology, could also lead to earlier diagnosis which would make incidence rates go up.

About 40% of Americans will get cancer in their lifetime. That’s a lot of us. But the good news is that overall cancer deaths are dropping. Detection and treatments are getting better and saving lives. So, what should you do? You can lower your chances of getting some cancers with healthy lifestyle habits. But many cancers are not associated with lifestyle habits. And sometimes, despite your best efforts, you could get cancer. So, these are the strategies I recommend for cancer survival and possibly prevention:

• Healthy Habits:     

o   Plant based eating

o   Exercise

o   Limit Alcohol

o   If you smoke, get help to kick the habit

o   Go here to learn more about healthy habits that can lower your risk of some cancers

• Cancer Screening:

o   Talk to your doctor about the cancer screening tests you need. Tests like mammograms for women, PSA for men, and other screening tests like cervical cancer and colon cancer can detect cancers early on, making them more treatable.

o   The American Cancer Society has an excellent website on what screening tests you should be getting at certain ages: Cancer Screenings by Age

o   Here is more good info on Finding Cancer Early.

• Go in Strong:

o   Getting diagnosed with cancer is scary. If you do get cancer (or heart disease, or any other illness) the healthier and stronger you are, the better your ability to recover.

o   I am a true believer that exercise is medicine. And there’s a website for that! Check out the resources available for people of all ability levels, ages, and with various medical conditions at Exercise is Medicine.  

It’s never too late to get stronger, get healthier, and take control of your health!

Beth Kitchin PhD RDN