PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A new report from the American Cancer Society finds cancer cases are expected to rise at an alarming rate this year.
The good news is that cancer mortality rates continue to fall. In fact, they’ve fallen for every single cancer except for endometrial cancer. That has resulted in over 4 million fewer deaths in the United States since 1991. The disturbing news from the report, however, is the number of cases expected this year,
“Cancer cases are expected to rise by over 2 million cases for the first time ever this year,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer for the ACS. He says while some of it may be due to increased screening, there is one key factor he believed everyone should note.
“Some of this may be a window into what's happening with the obesity epidemic. Cancers driven by obesity such as pancreas, kidney, postmenopausal breast cancer and liver cancers are increasing,” he said.
“Obesity is driving more and more cancers. And that, you know, at some point, if we can eliminate tobacco use, obesity may be one of the more leading causes of cancer.”
The report finds a sharp increase in colorectal cancer in younger Americans, with mortality patterns shifting in adults under age 50, moving up from being the fourth leading cause of cancer death in young people two decades ago, to first in men and second in women.
“The continuous sharp increase in colorectal cancer in younger Americans is alarming,” said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science at the ACS and senior author of the study.
“We need to halt and reverse this trend by increasing uptake of screening, including awareness of non-invasive stool tests with follow-up care in people 45-49 years. Up to one-third of people diagnosed before 50 have a family history or genetic predisposition and should begin screening before age 45 years. We also need to increase investment to elucidate the underlying reasons for the rising incidence to uncover additional preventive measures.”
Cancer patients are getting younger overall with diagnoses for those aged 50-64 increasing from 25% in 1995 to 30% in 2019-2020. Dahut says prevention is key.
“About 42% of cancers in this country are preventable, which is, which is an incredibly high number. So perhaps a half of that is tobacco. If you can really stop smoking before you're 30, the impact is really significant,” he said.
Heavy alcohol use is also a driver, according to Dahut. Exercise, meanwhile, is incredibly important and alone will save lives, he says. regardless of other factors.
In other areas of the report, breast cancer leads in women under 50 with more than 2,200 deaths in 2021. Cervical cancer incidence rates are decreasing steeply in women in their 20s, who were first to receive the HPV vaccine, but are increased in women 30-44 years old by 1.7%.
“The 2024 ACS cancer report underscores the importance of cancer prevention, and illuminates priority areas to address cancers whose incidence and/or mortality rates are inexplicably rising,” said ACS CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen.
“These observations highlight the critical need to invest in equitable application of proven cancer control interventions, and in discovery for new therapies, especially for advanced-stage cancers.”