Researchers from the American Cancer Society (ACS) have unveiled a comprehensive report detailing significant shifts in cancer trends across the United States. The findings highlight a notable increase in cancer incidence among women and younger adults, coupled with an overall decline in mortality rates. The data, drawn from central cancer registries through 2021 and mortality statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics through 2022, paints a complex picture of progress and challenges in cancer care.
The report reveals a dramatic drop in lung cancer death rates, with a 61% decline among men since 1990 and a 38% decrease among women since 2002. Despite these positive developments, the incidence of several common cancers continues to rise, particularly affecting women and the younger population. Breast cancer incidence among women rose by 1.6% from 2017 to 2021, while prostate cancer saw the steepest increase at 3.0% per year from 2014 to 2021. Other cancers with rising incidence rates include pancreatic (1.1%), uterine corpus (1.3%), melanoma in women (1.7%), liver cancer in women (2%), and HPV-associated oral cancers (1.9%).
The findings indicate an alarming trend of increasing cancer diagnoses among individuals under 65 years of age, with notable increases in colorectal cancer for both men and women and cervical cancer among women aged 30-44 years. This trend raises concerns about the long-term health implications for younger demographics.
“The most noteworthy finding is the shift in cancer burden to young and middle-aged adults, especially women, who are usually the family caretakers.” – Siegel
Overall, cancer deaths have declined by more than a third since the 1990s, translating into approximately 4.5 million fewer cancer deaths since 1991. This decline is attributed to significant advancements in cancer treatment and early detection methods. However, lung cancer remains a leading cause of death, causing more fatalities in 2022 than colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
The report also highlights disparities in cancer outcomes across different racial and ethnic groups, emphasizing the need for equitable access to healthcare services.
“Progress against cancer continues to be hampered by striking, wide static disparities for many racial and ethnic groups.” – Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD
Efforts to address these disparities are crucial in closing the gap in cancer care and achieving better outcomes for all populations.
“It’s essential to help end discrimination and inequality in cancer care for all populations. Taking this step is vital to closing this persistent gap and moving us closer to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.” – Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD
Despite the overall decline in cancer mortality rates, the rise in cancer incidence among younger women is particularly concerning. From 2002 to 2021, cancer incidence slightly declined in younger men but rose nearly 20% in younger women, predominantly due to breast and thyroid cancers. The pace of decline in mortality rates has accelerated over the past decade, with reductions of almost 5% per year in men and 4% per year in women.
“These data tell us that we’ve made great progress against cancer, but there is more work to do.” – Rebecca Siegel, MPH
Specific cancers, however, remain challenging. Pancreatic cancer continues to see rising incidence rates and remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
“However, death rates are increasing for some cancers, like pancreatic cancer, the third leading cancer death, and incidence rates are increasing for many common cancers.” – Siegel
Thyroid cancer rates have decreased by 2% annually since 2014, largely due to changes in medical practices aimed at avoiding overdiagnosis. Meanwhile, childhood and adolescent cancer mortality rates have dropped significantly since 1970 due to improved treatment options for leukemia.
“Overall, we are seeing a reduction in the number of cancers, but we always have to be thinking about the numerator and the denominator.” – Angela DeMichele, MD
The report projects that by 2025, there will be approximately 2,041,910 new cancer diagnoses and 618,120 cancer deaths in the United States. These projections underscore the importance of continued research and innovation in cancer prevention and treatment strategies.
“This group of patients are really not expecting to get cancer.” – Angela DeMichele, MD
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