Cancer rates among young women are on the rise, with women under the age of 50 82% more likely to develop cancer than their male counterparts. This surge has increased from 51% higher than in men in 2002 to 82% higher in 2021, according to the American Cancer Society.
This alarming statistic is driven by the rise in invasive breast cancer, which increased by 1% annually from 2012 to 2021, with the number of women under the age of 50 increasing by 1.4% annually. The study points to several risk factors, including excess body weight, delayed births and fewer children, as potential drivers of this growing trend. (Also read: What women need to know about cervical cancer: multiple sex partners to alcohol, lifestyle factors that can cause it )
Increasing incidence of cancer among women
Mortality from uterine cancer is also on the rise, with the study highlighting it as “one of the few cancers with a rising death rate”. From 2013 to 2022, the death rate increased by 1.5% annually. Similarly, the rate of colorectal cancer among people under the age of 50 has increased by 2.4% per year, and the death rate is increasing by 1% per year. Since the mid-1990s, the number of pancreatic cancer diagnoses has increased steadily by 1% each year, and the death rate has also increased, although at a slower rate.
“These troubling trends are more pronounced among women,” said Rebecca L. Seigel, an epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, in an interview with the New York Times.
Broader factors driving the cancer surge
“Although some cancers are also increasing in men, the trend is disproportionate, the increase is more significant in women,” said Neil Iyengar, MD, an oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He went on to point out that the rise in various cancers, particularly among young women, suggests that broader factors than individual or population genetics may be at work.
Environmental factors, along with lifestyle habits such as unhealthy diet, lack of sleep, smoking or vaping, and alcohol consumption, can contribute to an increase in cancer. Rebecca stressed: “Many people don’t realize the impact they have on their cancer risk. We have the power to make a difference. The most important step is to stop smoking.”
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor for any health concerns.
