A new study by the American Cancer Society reveals that Gen Xers (born between 1965 and 1980) and millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) are at increased risk for 17 of the 34 existing cancer types. Analyzing data from over 23 million cancer patients and more than 7.3 million cancer deaths between 2000 and 2019, the study found that incidence rates for pancreatic, kidney, small intestinal cancers, and female liver cancer were nearly three times higher for those born in the 1990s compared to those born in 1955. The findings were published on July 31 in The Lancet Public Health.
Additionally, there were significant increases in breast (estrogen-receptor positive), uterine corpus, colorectal, non-cardia gastric, gallbladder, ovarian, testicular, anal (male), and Kaposi sarcoma (male) cancers among these younger generations. Mortality rates have also risen for female liver cancer, uterine corpus, gallbladder, testicular, and colorectal cancer.
Ahmedin Jemal, PhD, the lead author of the study and senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society, stated that these results could be an "early indicator of future cancer burden" nationwide. Dr. Jemal emphasized that without effective population-level interventions, the elevated risk in younger generations could lead to an overall increase in cancer burden, potentially reversing decades of progress against the disease. He called for action to identify and address the underlying risk factors in Gen X and Millennial populations to inform prevention strategies.
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