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A large study by the American Cancer Society reveals that Generation X and Millennials face a higher risk of developing 17 out of 34 types of cancer compared to previous generations.
What’s the deal: According to the American Cancer Society, the increased risk includes cancers such as breast, pancreatic, and gastric. Additionally, the risk of death has also increased for these generations, particularly for liver cancer (among females), uterine corpus, gallbladder, testicular, and colorectal cancers.
What the American Cancer Society said: In a press release, a doctor with the group said, “These findings add to growing evidence of increased cancer risk in post-Baby Boomer generations, expanding on previous findings of early-onset colorectal cancer and a few obesity-associated cancers to encompass a broader range of cancer types. Birth cohorts, groups of people classified by their birth year, share unique social, economic, political, and climate environments, which affect their exposure to cancer risk factors during their crucial developmental years. Although we have identified cancer trends associated with birth years, we don’t yet have a clear explanation for why these rates are rising.”
Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, a senior leader in the group added, “The increase in cancer rates among this younger group of people indicate generational shifts in cancer risk and often serve as an early indicator of future cancer burden in the country. Without effective population-level interventions, and as the elevated risk in younger generations is carried over as individuals age, an overall increase in cancer burden could occur in the future, halting or reversing decades of progress against the disease. The data highlights the critical need to identify and address underlying risk factors in Gen X and Millennial populations to inform prevention strategies.”
