Centrala begrepp
Cancer incidence rates have been increasing in younger generations compared to their parents, posing a concerning public health challenge.
Sammanfattning
The article discusses the surprising finding that cancer incidence rates have been rising in younger generations compared to their parents and grandparents. The author, Dr. F. Perry Wilson, examines this trend using data from the SEER cancer database, which tracked cancer cases among 3.8 million people in the US from 1992 to 2018.
The key insights are:
While overall cancer rates have increased due to factors like an aging population, when adjusting for age, the data shows a concerning trend - each successive generation since the baby boomers has had higher cancer incidence rates, with the exception of Gen X.
Certain cancer types, like kidney and thyroid cancer, have seen dramatic increases in incidence rates in younger generations compared to their parents.
This trend holds true across different racial and ethnic groups.
Potential explanations include improved cancer detection methods leading to more diagnoses, as well as changing environmental exposures and lifestyle factors that may be driving higher cancer risk in younger cohorts.
Despite overall improvements in cancer treatment and mortality, the rising incidence in younger generations poses a significant public health challenge that requires a flexible and adaptive approach to cancer prevention and control.
Statistik
The US saw 2 million new cancer cases in 2021, up from 1 million in 1990.
Cancer incidence rates have declined for the baby boomer generation but are now rising again for Gen X.
Kidney and thyroid cancer incidence rates have dramatically increased in younger generations compared to their parents.
Citat
"With each successive generation since the baby boomers, cancer incidence has decreased, with one exception: Gen X."
"For the first time in about a century, my generation — for the first time in about a century — at higher risk for cancer than our parents were."