More People Younger Than 50 Being Diagnosed With Cancer
From 2010 to 2019, early-onset cancer cases in the United States went up from 56,051 to 56,468, an overall increase of 0.74%, according to a study. Although incident rates of gastrointestinal cancer cases increased the most, breast cancer had the highest number of cases.
The study also found that rates of cancer cases in people age 50 and older went down during the same time period.
The research was published online on Aug. 16, 2023, by the journal JAMA Network Open. Read “Patterns in Cancer Incidence Among People Younger Than 50 Years in the US, 2010 to 2019.”
Doctors call cancer diagnosed in people younger than 50 early-onset cancer.
About the study
The researchers analyzed information from the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) databases. The SEER databases are large registries of cancer cases from sources throughout the United States maintained by the National Institutes of Health.
Between 2010 and 2019, 562,145 people were diagnosed with early-onset cancer:
7.5% were 19 or younger
10.5% were 20 to 29
24.3% were 30 to 39
57.7% were 40 to 49
62.5% were women
37.5% were men
0.8% were American Indian or Alaska Native
9.8% were Asian or Pacific Islander
10.9% were Black
21% were Hispanic
56% were white
1.6% were of unknown race or ethnicity
The analysis found rates of early-onset cancers:
decreased 4.9% in men
increased 4.35% in women
increased 2.28% in American Indian or Alaska Native people
increased 32.25% in Asian or Pacific Islander people
increased 27.61% in Hispanic people
decreased 4.68% in Black people
decreased 12.2% in white people
The researchers said the increase in early-onset cancer cases in women was mainly because more cases of uterine and breast cancer were diagnosed in younger women.
In 2019, breast cancer had the highest number of early-onset cases. The top three early-onset cancers by number of cases in 2019 were:
breast cancer: 12,649 cases
thyroid cancer: 5,869 cases
colon or rectal cancer: 4,097 cases
From 2010 to 2019, the cancers with the greatest increase in rates were:
appendix cancer (rates increased by 251.89%)
intrahepatic bile duct cancer (rates increased by 142.22%)
uterine cancer (rates increased by 76.47%)
By age, rates of early-onset cancers increased in people ages 30 to 39 from 2010 to 2019, but stayed the same in the other age groups.
“This nationwide study provides updated evidence that the incidence of early-onset cancers in the United States is increasing and highlights several disparities,” the researchers wrote. “The increase in early-onset cancer disproportionately occurred among female individuals, American Indian or Alaska Native individuals, Asian or Pacific Islander individuals, and individuals aged 30 to 39 years. Further research is required to fully elucidate the reasons for these disparities.”
What this means for you
The researchers didn’t offer causes for the increase in early-onset cancer. Marisa Weiss, MD, founder and chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org has some ideas.
“Women younger than 50 are the canaries in the coal mine, if you will,” Dr. Weiss said. “They’re telling us that modern life may be dangerous. This increase in breast cancer is not because more women have inherited genetic mutations linked to breast cancer. Rather, it’s because modern life can be risky. More women have unhealthy habits and lifestyles:
many women are overweight; the extra weight makes hormones, causes inflammation, and holds onto more toxins
more women are drinking alcohol and more of it; the more you drink the higher the risk of developing breast cancer
more women are using hormonal birth control long-term and having fewer pregnancies; having children younger than your mid-30s helps protect against breast cancer
more women are less likely to breastfeed, which also helps protect against breast cancer
more women are consuming foods and using personal care products that contain higher levels of potential substances that cause cancer
“This article sounds an alarm,” Dr. Weiss continued. “We need to provide more information to girls and women about how to lead a breast-healthy life with evidence-based steps. The good news is that breast health equals women’s health. And when you take these extra steps and share them with your friends and on social media, more people who watch and respect you will follow your lead. That’s how a movement for good is born and grows to protect the current and next generations from breast cancer.”
— Last updated on October 26, 2023 at 9:37 PM