Cancer Rates Rising in Gen X and Millenials Compared to Older Generations, Study Finds

Researchers have published a new study that takes a comprehensive look at the United States’ cancer rates. They aimed to measure and compare incidence rates of cancer diagnosis and mortality in different generations over time. The study concluded that the incidence rates of Gen X and Millennials were 2 to 3 times higher than those born in 1955. They are also more likely to develop 17 types of cancer. The researchers noted that the major contributing factors for this increase included environmental toxins, diet, and obesity. [1] However, more research is required to uncover the other factors involved in the rise in cancer rates.

The Rise of Cancer Rates in Gen X and Millennials
Young Patient Lying in Bed
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The same researchers conducted a similar study in 2019, finding an increase in eight cancer types in more recent generations. However, until now, no study has taken both cancer incidence and mortality by birth year into account. The purpose of this new study was to bridge the huge gap in applicable data. [2] The researchers explained that exposure to carcinogenic factors early in life affected the incidence of cancer in those aged 50 or younger. [3] More people will develop cancer in the future as these young groups carry their increased risk into their senior years.

The 17 Types of Cancer
Cancer Word Spelled on Scrabble Tiles
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The study investigated the data of 23,654,000 individuals diagnosed with 34 different types of cancer. It also included data from 7,348,137 deaths from 25 cancers. The data from this sample group was from individuals who were diagnosed and died between 2000 and 2019. What they discovered was an increase in 17 of the 34 cancers in Gen X and Millennials:

small intestine
cardia gastric
ovary
estrogen receptor-positive breast
non-HPV-associated oral and pharynx (in females)
liver and intrahepatic bile duct (in females)
Kaposi sarcoma (in males)
anus (in males)
colorectal cancer
endometrial cancer
gallbladder and other biliary
pancreas
kidney and renal pelvis
myeloma
non-cardia gastric
Leukemia