While the rate of cancer among American young adults is up, the overall cancer death rate is on the decline.
Dr. Cynthia Yoshida, lead of UVA Cancer Center‘s Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, shared in an online video conference with Virginia media Friday afternoon that the September 2024 report from the American Association of Cancer Research “highlights these advances we’ve had in cancer treatment.”
Cases of cancer are increasing among adults ages 18 to 50, but the survival rate is improving.
The good news is shared with women when it comes to breast cancer: a 25 percent reduction in death from 1975 to 2019. From 1989 to 2021, a 42 percent reduction in death is attributed to routine mammograms. Women are recommended to begin mammography screening at age 40.
Yoshida said humans are living in a “transformative era.” Since the 1990s, fewer individuals have died of cancer. In 1991, the death rate from cancer was down by 1/3.
“What that translates into is more Americans are cancer survivors,” Yoshida said.
Breakthroughs in cancer treatments, including 16 new treatments for breast cancer, have decreased the breast cancer death rate. Screening and early detection are also important for saving lives. Yoshida said that AI-assisted mammography has also helped improve mortality rates.
However, why is the rate of colorectal cancer up for young adults?
“Cancer was once thought of as a disease in old people,” Yoshida said. But the rate of colorectal cancer has increased for Americans under age 50. “It’s really become epidemic.”
The AACR report shows that colorectal, stomach, breast and certain blood cancers are increasingly more common for young adults. Yoshida said that GenX and Millennials have a higher rate.
“That’s not progress,” Yoshida said.
Moreover, fewer colorectal cancer cases are found in Americans ages 65 and older, which is attributed to early screening. The rate among adults under age 50 has increased 3.2 percent and presents as advanced disease.
Intense research is necessary to find out why, but, according to Yoshida, several factors are suspects: unhealthy diet and microbiome (also known as processed foods), obesity, chemicals in the environment, use of antibiotics, excessive alcohol intake and sedentary behaviors.
“Alcohol really changes the DNA in cells,” Yoshida said of why physicians encourage less alcohol intake. Alcohol increases the rates of stomach, colorectal, liver and esophageal cancers.
American adults are receiving diagnoses in their 20s and 30s. Yoshida said she sees patients come in who are in their 20s and 30s for colonoscopies and are diagnosed with cancer. Some have breast cancer.
Young adults can reduce their risk of cancer by remaining aware of their bodies: any weight loss, breast lumps, bloating or blood in stools can signal cancer. When it’s time for a screening, Yoshida advises screening. Breast cancer starting at age 40, colorectal cancer starting at age 45 and lung cancer at age 50.
“We definitely know that screening saves lives,” she said.
She also encourages patients to talk with their families about histories of cancers.
Young adults are encouraged to make healthy lifestyle choices every day: stop smoking, avoid second-hand smoke, reduce or eliminate alcohol, stay active and avoid unhealthy foods.
“There are a lot of things that we can do to reduce the chance of developing cancer at an early age,” Yoshida said.
The good news is that if you are diagnosed with cancer, mortality rates have increased. From 1991 to 2021, a 33 percent reduction has been seen overall in the cancer death rate for Americans.
In 2023, Yoshida said the Food and Drug Administration approved 15 new treatments for cancer, new imaging is available for breast cancer screening and AI-based tools are available for early detection and diagnosis.
At UVA Cancer Center, Yoshida said an American Cancer Society grant focused on adults ages 45 to 49, sent them home with screening tests and found that polyps could be removed before cancer was detected.
“It’s exciting. Exciting times,” Yoshida said. Her passion is colorectal cancer screening and detection.
The future of cancer research at UVA includes 250 new clinical trials. Yoshida said that central Virginia residents have access to the latest treatment options and opportunities to participate in research trials.
The next screening test for cancer, Yoshida believes, will be liquid biopsies, which are blood sample tests to detect cancer.
“You know this technology is going to get better. You know this is going to be better,” she said of cancer detection and survival.
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
