Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have analyzed cancer statistics for different age groups in the United States and found that incidence rates of 14 cancer types increased among people under age 50 from 2010 through 2019. The largest absolute increases were seen for female breast cancer, with about 4,800 additional cases in 2019, followed by colorectal, kidney, and uterine cancers.
According to the study, the 5 cancer types that increased in incidence among one of the younger age groups but not among any of the older age groups are:
1. Melanoma
2. Cervical cancer
3. Stomach cancer
4. Myeloma
5. Cancers of the bones and joints
The study suggests that risk factors such as increasing obesity and changes in cancer screening guidelines may have contributed to these increases. The researchers call for further studies to examine trends in early-onset cancers across demographics and geography in the U.S. and internationally.
According to the study, death rates did not increase overall despite the incidence rates rising because the incidence of 19 other cancer types, including lung cancer and prostate cancer, decreased among people under age 50. This decrease in incidence of certain cancer types offset the increase in incidence of other cancer types, resulting in no overall increase in cancer deaths among young people.
The study suggests that increasing obesity may be a contributing factor to the increasing incidence of certain cancers among young people. However, it does not provide specific details on the relationship between obesity and cancer. The text mentions that changes in cancer screening guidelines, advances in imaging technologies, and increased surveillance of high-risk individuals may also have led to earlier cancer diagnoses, potentially contributing to rising rates among younger age groups.
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